Birgit Dressel

Birgit Dressel was a West German heptathlete who died only a few days before her 27th birthday. She had a short career, winning the German Championship in 1986, placing fourth at the 1986 European Championships, and taking part in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, where she placed ninth. Her profession was a graduated sports teacher. Her brother Volker and her father Hermann were also successful track and field athletes at the national level.

Dressel’s sudden death was triggered by a drug-induced reaction to a medical treatment for lower back pain. A 120-page report was then released, with eight experts stating that Birgit Dressel had taken countless drugs, including multiple prescriptions from well-known Freiburg sports doctor Armin Klümper. Nevertheless, the exact cause of her death has not been elucidated.

Personal Best: Hep – 6487 (1986).