Gaby Bußmann

Gaby Bußmann won the bronze medal with the 4x400 metres relay at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games and was eliminated in the heats over 400 metres. She placed fourth in the 400 metres and sixth with the 4×400 metre relay team at the 1983 World Championships. She also took part in the 1978, 1982 and 1986 European Championships winning a relay silver in 1986, and started at the 1979, 1981 and 1983 European Cups. She earned a bronze medal at the 1982 European Indoor Championships over 400 metres, and also earned 20 national titles in different events. Bußmann was awarded the Silbernes Lorbeerblatt (Silver Bay Leaf) in 1984.

In 1990 an article in Der Spiegel revealed that there was a systematic doping scheme involving Bußmann’s home club Eintracht Hamm in the 1980s, under the guidance of then coach Jochen Spilker. Helga Arendt, Gisela Kinzel, Silke Knoll and non-Olympians Mechthild Kluth and Andrea Hannemann had been involved, who all ended their active careers shortly after the publication of the article. Coach Jochen Spilker was Bußmann’s longtime coach as well and was also her life partner during this time.

Bußmann later graduated as a psychologist and worked as a sports psychologist with the coaching staff of the horseback acrobats and for riding eventers. Eventually, she was a psychotherapist at the Olympic Training Center in Dortmund, Westphalia. Her sister Claudia was also a track and field athlete.

Personal Best: 400 – 49.75 (1983).