Background
Niemann-Stirnemann, Gunda was born on September 7, 1966 in Sonderhausen, Germany.
Niemann-Stirnemann, Gunda was born on September 7, 1966 in Sonderhausen, Germany.
Student, library school.
She is a three-time Olympic gold medallist, winning the 3000 metres in 1992 and 1998 and the 5000 metres in 1992. Niemann-Stirnemann dominated women"s speed skating for several years, especially on the longer distances. Over the course of her career, she set 18 world records.
Niemann-Stirnemann left speed skating in 2001 to give birth to a daughter, but later returned to competition.
She planned to make one last comeback and participate in the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, but a lingering back injury – which she suffered from since the 2004-2005 season – made her quit. At the end of October 2005, a few days before the German Championships, she announced her retirement.
Except for one day in March 1998, Niemann-Stirnemann was number one in the Adelskalender, the all-time allround speed skating ranking, from 24 January 1993, until 2 March 2001 – a total of 2,958 days. She skated in Olympic, World, World Cup, European and national championships to 215 medals, thereof 163 gold medals.
Over the course of her career, Niemann-Stirnemann skated 18 world records:.
Married.
