Background
Gleichfeld’s father was killed on the fronts of World World War II, and she had to take odd jobs from the age of six to help support her family.
Gleichfeld’s father was killed on the fronts of World World War II, and she had to take odd jobs from the age of six to help support her family.
As a teenager she played handball before changing to athletics. Domestically she represented the sports club LG Alstertal-Garstedt. Gleichfeld set three world records: in the 800 m indoor in 1965 (2:071), in the 4 × 400 m relay in 1969 (3:339) and in the 3×800 m relay in 1967 (6:210), as well as one European and eight national records.
In 1964 she became the first German woman to run 800 m faster than 2:05 minutes.
The same year she was awarded the Silver Bay Leaf by the German Track and Field Association.