Leah MUELLER

As Miss Poulos, Leah Mueller competed in the 1972 and 1976 Olympics, winning a silver in the 1000 meters at Innsbruck and narrowly missing a bronze in the 500 meters. In September 1977, she married U.S. speed skating team member, Peter Mueller, and won two more medals under her married name at Lake Placid. Besides her Olympic successes, Leah Poulos Mueller was twice World Sprint champion, in 1974 and 1979; and thrice second in that event, in 1976, 1977, and 1980. She competed in the longer distances only early in her career because it was apparent that she was a pure sprinter. She retired in 1978 to travel with her husband and watch him compete, but quickly became bored with that and returned to competition the next year. She was coached early in her career by her father and three-time world champion, John Werket, but her husband and Peter Schotting took over those duties in preparation for Lake Placid.

Personal Bests: 500 – 41.13 (1980); 1000 – 1:23.07 (1980); 1500 – 2:13.98 (1976); 3000 – 5:11.43 (1976).