Sabine Becker

Sabine Becker twice narrowly missed out on a medal in the World Junior Championships, finishing fourth in both 1978 and 1979. She excelled in the longer women’s distances (1,500 m and 3,000 m), winning titles in these events in the 1980 East German Championships. Due to health reasons, she only competed with the seniors for one season, placing 5th in the World Allround Championships, and winning Olympic medals in the 1,500 and 3,000 in Lake Placid.

She then turned to her music studies. In 1986, she failed to return from a private visit to West Berlin, and gained West German citizenship. Two years later, she attempted a comeback in speed skating, placing second in the West German Allround Championships of 1989. She also qualified for the World Cup team, and won several more national championship medals. She retired a second time after the 1990 season.

Personal Bests: 500 – 43.33 (1980); 1000 – 1:26.4 (1980); 1500 – 2:12.38 (1980); 3000 – 4:32.79 (1980); 5000 – 8:07.38 (1989).