Astrid Strauß
Biographical information
| Roles | Competed in Olympic Games |
|---|---|
| Sex | Female |
| Full name | Astrid•Strauß |
| Used name | Astrid•Strauß |
| Born | 24 December 1968 in Ost-Berlin (East Berlin), Berlin (GER) |
| Measurements | 187 cm / 82 kg |
| Affiliations | Berliner TSC, Berlin (GER) |
| NOC |  East Germany |
| Medals | OG |
| Gold | 0 |
| Silver | 1 |
| Bronze | 0 |
| Total | 1 |
Biography
Astrid Strauß was an East German long-distance freestyle swimmer who won the 800 metres silver medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games. Due to the Soviet-led boycott of the 1984 Games she could not participate in Los Angeles. Strauß won two gold medals (800 metres and 4x200 metres freestyle relay) and a silver medal (400 metres) at the 1986 World Championships. She also won eight gold and four silver medals at European Championships.
Strauß trained with coach Wolfgang Sack and was part of the systematic doping system enforced on her by the GDR state system. In the course of the Olympic qualification for Barcelona in 1992, Manfred Donike’s doping institute discovered an excessive level of testosterone for Strauß, whereupon she was banned for a long time. Therefore, her selection for Barcelona was cancelled. She blamed her excessive consumption of strawberry punch for the high content of the male hormone, which was later confirmed. Strauß later worked as a receptionist in a Berlin hotel.
Results
| Games | Discipline (Sport) / Event | NOC / Team | Pos | Medal | As | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 Summer Olympics | Swimming (Aquatics) | GDR |
Astrid Strauß | |||
| 800 metres Freestyle, Women (Olympic) | 2 | Silver |
Special Notes
- Listed in Olympians Who Set a European Record in Long Course Swimming (400 m freestyle – 17 June 1983 - 19 June 1986: 4:08.25 (17 June 1983; Gera, GDR), 4:08.07 (24 August 1983; Roma, ITA), 4:07.66 (21 August 1984; Moskva, URS); 800 m freestyle – 18 June 1983 - 29 July 1986: 8:29.61 (18 June 1983; Gera, GDR), 8:28.36 (26 May 1984; Magdeburg, GDR), 8:26.52 (21 June 1986; Ost-Berlin, GDR); 1500 m freestyle – 5 January 1984 - 28 July 2001: 16:13.55 (5 January 1984; Austin, USA); 4×200 m freestyle relay – 22 August 1983 - 3 August 2006: 8:02.27 (22 August 1983; Roma, ITA), 7:59.33 (17 August 1986; Madrid, ESP), 7:55.47 (18 August 1987; Strasbourg, FRA))
- Listed in Olympians Who Set a European Record in Short Course Swimming (400 m freestyle – 8 February 1987 - 5 April 2002: 4:02.05 (8 February 1987; Bonn, FRG); 800 m freestyle – 2 June 1987 - 13 December 2002: 8:15.34 (2 June 1987; Bonn, FRG))
- Listed in Olympians Who Set a World Record in Long Course Swimming (4×200 m freestyle relay – 22 August 1983 - 18 August 2004: 8:02.27 (22 August 1983; Roma, ITA), 7:59.33 (17 August 1986; Madrid, ESP), 7:55.47 (18 August 1987; Strasbourg, FRA))
- Listed in Olympians Who Set a World Record in Short Course Swimming (400 m freestyle – 8 February 1987 - 18 April 1997: 4:02.05 (8 February 1987; Bonn, FRG))
- Listed in Olympians Who Won a Medal at the European Aquatics Championships (8–4–0 1983 Roma SWM gold: 400 m freestyle, 800 m freestyle, and 4×200 m freestyle relay, silver: 200 m freestyle; 1985 Sofia SWM gold: 400 m freestyle, 800 m freestyle, and 4×200 m freestyle relay; 1987 Strasbourg SWM gold: 4×200 m freestyle relay, silver: 400 m freestyle and 800 m freestyle; 1989 Bonn SWM gold: 4×200 m freestyle relay, silver: 800 m freestyle)
- Listed in Olympians Who Won a Medal at the World Aquatics Championships (2–1–0 1986 Madrid SWI gold: 800 m freestyle and 4×200 m freestyle relay, silver: 400 m freestyle)