Ruth SCHLEIERMACHER

Ruth Schleiermacher participated as a speed skater at the 1968 Grenoble and the 1972 Sapporo Winter Olympics (by then married to her coach Hans-Herbert Budzisch) with limited success. She had her best Olympic result in the 1,500 metres event, placing eighth in 1968. She mainly competed in distances between 500 and 1,500 metres. In 1969 she won the 500 metres World title at Davos. In total, she set 27 East German records, and won 18 national titles. She also set two unofficial world records, and in 1971 captured the sprint World Championships. She later ran a fitness studio in Berlin-Lichterfelde.

Personal Bests: 500 – 43.15 (1971); 1000 – 1:28.9 (1971); 1500 – 2:22.15 (1972); 3000 – 5:08.7 (1969).