Zita Funkenhauser

Romanian-born Zita Funkenhauser, later the wife of Matthias Behr and sister-in-law to his brother Reinhold, was a West German foil fencer who won two Olympic team gold medals, in 1984 and 1988. She also won a team silver in 1992, then representing re-unified Germany, and an individual bronze at the Seoul Summer Games. At the World Championships, Funkenhauser added three more team golds (1985, 1989, and 1993), and three team bronze medals (1986, 1991, and 1995). In 1987 she won an individual silver, and in 1988-89, and 1993, individual bronze medals.

Funkenhauser won her only individual German national championship in 1993. She later studied dentistry, raised twin daughters, and worked as a dentist at Tauberbischofsheim in her own practice. She was awarded the Silver Bay Leaf, Germany’s highest sports award. Her sister, and non-Olympian, Hedwig was an épée fencer. Their parents moved to West Germany in 1979.