Frank-Peter Roetsch

In 1985 Frank-Peter Roetsch was one of the first biathletes who changed his running style to the skating technique. He started at the 1984 and 1988 Winter Olympics for the former GDR and in 1992 for reunified Germany in his final season. In 1988, he was the last flag bearer of the GDR at a Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony. There he claimed two gold medals in the 10 km sprint biathlon and the 20 km, adding a fifth place in the relay. Four years earlier he had won the silver medal over 20 km. With five gold and silver medals at the World Championships 1983-89, Roetsch is considered one of the most successful biathletes of all time. Domestically he won 12 East German titles, also finishing second and third three times each.

As his brother Thomas was nationally successful in Nordic combined, Frank-Peter also started his career in this discipline, but then turned to biathlon. Roetsch later worked temporarily as a co-commentator for the TV channel Eurosport and as a freelancer in the sport marketing field.