Birgit Peter

East German Rower Birgit Peter burst into the scene in 1982 when she won the Youth World Championships with the quadruple sculls. She then also became world champion three times in a row from 1985-87. In 1988, she partnered Martina Schröter in the double sculls and won the gold medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Since 1989, she moved to the single sculls and was World Championship runner-up in 1989, and champion in 1990.

Domestically, Peter won East German national titles in 1985-86, and 1989, and German titles in 1992 and 1994. After re-unification Peter moved to Karlsruhe in West Germany and won another gold medal with the quadruple sculls at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. In 1993, she won her only national title with the quadruple sculls of Karlsruher RV Wiking. She was awarded the Silver Bay Leaf, Germany’s highest sports award.

By profession, Peter became a medical-technical laboratory assistant. She married rower [Christian Händle] whose Roland was also an Olympic rower.