Monique Riesterer

German weightlifter Monique Riesterer participated in the super-heavyweight class at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and finished a respectable sixth. Winning 20 medals (2-11-7) at European Championships, Riesterer became the most successful female weightlifter in Germany. Her greatest moment came in 1998 when she won the European title in the combined event. In 1995 and 1996, she finished an unfortunate fourth as her best results at the Worlds.

Riesterer won 11 German national titles (1990-99 and 2002). She trained as an offset printer and later moved to Berlin with her husband Mario Ludwigs. Her father Herbert was also a weightlifter, and was her coach.