Ute GÄHLER

Originally an East German luger, Ute Gähler defected to the West during the 1964 Innsbruck Winter Olympics. Non-Olympian West German luger Max Leo helped her, taking her in his car to West Germany. She was then suspended from international competition for three years. Leo and friends also helped Gähler to find a job as a secretary. She competed at Grenoble at the next Winter Olympics in 1968, and finished eighth, competing for West Germany.