Franka Dietzsch

Franka Dietzsch
Dietzsch in 2005
Personal information
NationalityGerman
Born (1968-01-22) January 22, 1968 (age 56)
Wolgast, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, East Germany
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight82 kg (181 lb)
Sport
Country East Germany
 Germany
SportAthletics
EventDiscus throw
ClubSC Empor Rostock
SC Neubrandenburg
Achievements and titles
Personal best69.51 m (1999)
Medal record
Women's athletics
Representing  Germany
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1999 Seville Discus
Gold medal – first place 2005 Helsinki Discus
Gold medal – first place 2007 Osaka Discus
European Championships
Gold medal – first place 1998 Budapest Discus
Silver medal – second place 2006 Gothenburg Discus

Franka Dietzsch (born 22 January 1968) is a German former discus thrower best known for winning gold medals at three World Championships in Athletics. She won the 1998 European Championships and 1999 World Championships, but did not return to the international podium until her win at the 2005 World Championships.

At the age of 39 she won her third world championship title in 2007 in Osaka. After spending a year away from the field due to health problems, she returned to competition at the Wiesbaden meet. She finished in second place with 61.49 metres, remaining focused on defending her discus World Champion at the 2009 World Championships,[1] at which she finished 23rd at 58.44 metres, failing to qualify for the final. She retired the same year as one of the few remaining athletes to have represented East Germany internationally.[2]

Her personal best throw is 69.51 metres, achieved in May 1999 in Wiesbaden. This result ranks her ninth among German discus throwers, behind Gabriele Reinsch, Ilke Wyludda, Diana Gansky-Sachse, Irina Meszynski, Gisela Beyer, Martina Hellmann-Opitz, Evelin Jahl and Silvia Madetzky.[3]

  1. ^ Wenig, Jörg (18 May 2009). Fine start for Berlin’s Robert Harting – German competition weekend round-up. IAAF. Retrieved on 2009-05-18.
  2. ^ Leichtathletik.de (6 September 2009) Franka Dietzsch und Steffi Nerius sagen Adieu Retrieved on 2017-04-12.
  3. ^ ""Ewige" Bestenliste der deutschen Leichtathletik" ["Eternal" list of the best in German athletics] (PDF). leichtathletik.de (in German). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 July 2007.