Jürgen Schult

Discus thrower Jürgen Schult competed at four consecutive Olympic Games from 1988-2000, winning the gold medal for East Germany in 1988, the silver medal for reunified Germany in 1992, and placing sixth and eighth in 1996 and 2000, respectively. He participated in seven World Championships from 1983-99, winning gold in 1987, silver in 1999, and two bronzes in 1993 and 1997. Schult also won the World Cup in 1989 and was runner-up in 1985. At the Europeans he took gold in 1990, a silver in 1998 and a bronze in 1994. He won the European Cup three times in 1983, 1989, and 1999, was runner-up in 1987, 1991, 1994 and 1998, and third in 1996. His world record throw of 74.08 from 1986 remained the world record as of 2020.

Domestically Schult won East German titles in 1983-90 and a German title in 1999, also placing second in 1991-94, 1998, and 2000. At the last international match before reunification between the former GDR and West Germany, in 1988, East German winner Schult caused an uproar when he did not accept congratulations from his former teammate Wolfgang Schmidt, who had legally moved to West Germany after an unsuccessful attempt to defect.

After German reunification Schult was accused of systematic doping by Brigitte Berendonk and in documents released by the Military Medical Academy in Bad Saarow, with suspicions that he was given high doses of oral turinabol from 1981-84. Schult always denied the use of anabolic steroids.

Schult was educated as a machine construction worker in former GDR but later trained as a sports scientist. He then became a sports coach and was employed as chief national coach for discus in 2001 in Germany, and in 2011 became responsible for all technical disciplines in Germany. In 2001 he was awarded the Rudolf Harbig Memorial Award.

Personal Best: DT – 74.08 (1986).