Susanne Lahme

Susanne Lahme was on the East German volleyball team at the 1988 Seoul Olympics that won the fifth-place match against Brazil 3-1. She also won the European Championships in 1987 and was silver medallist in 1985 and 1989, and bronze medallist in 1991 (representing re-unified Germany). In 1996 she was on the German team that finished eighth at Atlanta. In 1994, Lahme participated in the World Championships.

In total, Lahme won 263 international caps with East Germany and re-unified Germany. She played for SC Dynamo Berlin (1980-91), CJD Berlin (1991-93), and then moved to Italy. Lahme then played for Ecoclear Sumiragi (1993-95), Latte Rugiada Matera (1995-96), Leites Nestle Sorocaba (1996-97 in Brazil), Foppapedretti Bergamo (1997-98), Medinex Reggio Calabrese (1998-99), Despar Perugia (1999-2001), Monte Schiavo Jesi (2001-02), and Cerdisa Reggio Emilia (2002-03).

Lahme was East German Champion from 1985-91, German Champion in 1993, and also East German Cup winner in 1983-87, 1989, and 1991, and German Cup winner in 1992-93. In 1984-85 and 1993 she won the European Cup Winners’ Cup. In 1996, Lahme won the Champions League and in 2000 again won the European Cup Winners’ Cup. In 1996 she was Brazilian Champion and in 1998 was both Italian Champion and Cup Winner. In 1992 and 1993, Lahme was elected Volleyball Player of the Year.

Lahme tuned to beach volleyball in 2001 and partnered with Danja Müsch from 2002-05, finishing ninth at the 2004 Athina Olympics. Both were also German championship runners-up in 2002, third in 2003 and champions in 2005. In 2003 and 2004 the pair also reached the World Tour finals. From 2006-07 Lahme partnered with non-Olympian Geeske Bank, before retiring in 2007 when she turned to coaching.

From December 2008 she ran her own beach camps for both beginners and advanced players. She also became owner of an insurance agency in 2012. Lahme had originally trained as a schoolteacher.