Steffen ZESNER

Steffen Zesner started at the 1988 Olympics for East Germany and in 1992 and 1996 for the reunified German team. During the mid-1990s he was the focus of the yellow press concerning his relationship with his teammate Franziska van Almsick, as they assumed a forthcoming )dream wedding). The ensuing legal battle with the yellow press )Das Neue Schnell und Aktuell) (The News Fast and Actual) lasted almost two years until it was resolved in favor of Zesner and van Almsick and )Das Neue Schnell und Aktuell) had to retract some of their statements. Nevertheless, the relationship broke down – possibly because of this stress.

Zesner won four relay medals at the Olympics between 1988 and 1996, adding a gold at the 1991 World Championship over 4×200 metres together with Peter Sitt, Stefan Pfeiffer and Michael Groß. At the 1995 European Championships, he won his only major individual title, winning the 400 freestyle. He then became severely ill from kidney stones and retired after the 1996 Olympics, founding his own sports consultancy company.