Antje GLEICHFELD-BRAASCH

Middle distance runner Antje Gleichfeld placed fifth at the 1960 and the 1964 Olympic Games in the 800 metres. In 1966 she earned two bronze medals in the 800 and 4x400 relay, repeating that at the European Cup one year later. At the Summer Universade she collected one gold, three silver and one bronze from 1959-65. Domestically she was the dominating 800 m runner in West Germany in the 1960s, winning 15 national titles in different distances. Among her best results were three world records: 800 m indoor 1965 (2:07.1), 4x400 m 1969 (3:33.9) and 3x800 1967 (6:21.0), one European record, and eight national records. In 1964 Gleichfeld became the first German women to better 2:05 for 800 metres. The same year she was awarded the Silver Bay Leaf by the German Track and Field Association.

Antje Gleichfeld’s father was killed in action during World War II, and she had to deliver newspapers from the age of six to help support the family. In her youth she was an avid handball player. She was later married to Detlev Gleichfeld, also a middle distance runner. She earned her living as a sports teacher at school.

Personal Best: 800 – 2:03.7 (1966).