Ruth FUCHS

Ruth Fuchs was the best female javelin thrower of the 1970s and was voted by Track & Field News as female Athlete of the Decade for the 1970s. After being world-ranked #2 in 1970-71, she was ranked #1 every year from 1973-79, followed by being ranked third in 1980. She set six world records with the javelin and was the first female javelin thrower to better 60 metres (1970). In addition to her Olympic gold medals, Fuchs was European Champion in both 1974 and 1978.

Ruth Fuchs later earned a doctoral degree and was Vice President of the Track & Field Association of East Germany from 1984-1990. After the reunification of Germany she became a Member of Parliament for the left-wing party PDS – Die Linke in 1990 and 1992-2002, as well as a Member of Parliament from Thurinigia in 2004. She was married to the middle distance runner Ulrich Fuchs, but they divorced and she later married her former coach Karl Hellmann. Ruth Fuchs has admitted using steroids during her career, as part of the official East German sports programme.

Personal Best: JT – 69.96 (1980).