Marita LANGE

Shot putter Marita Lange earned the silver medal at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics and finished sixth four years later in München. She claimed two more bronze medals at the 1966 and 1969 Europeans, winning a silver in 1971 and placing sixth in 1973. At the European Indoors Lange won a gold medal in 1969, and bronze medals in 1968 and 1970. In East Germany she won the shot put title in 1970 and 1973, also winning indoors in 1973. Lange also competed in the discus throw several times.

Lange was educated as a stenotypist, but later worked as a school teacher. She also worked with the District Board of the GDR Sports Association DTSB in Halle. After German reunification she was a clerk in the Disability and Rehabilitation Sports Association of Saxony-Anhalt and served as a coach of the wheelchair athlete Ulrich Iser (Paralympic Champion at Sydney in 2000).

Personal Best: SP – 19.40 (1974).