In Germany only Sabine Braun has a better result. Sabine John also ranks high on the German all-time lists in 100 metres hurdles (1254 seconds, only behind Bettine Jahn, Gloria Uibel and Cornelia Oschkenat and joint with Kerstin Knabe) and long jump (712 metres, only behind Heike Drechsler and Helga Radtke). She competed for the sports club South Carolina DHfK Leipzig during her active career.
As Sabine Möbius, she won the silver medal at the 1982 European Championships. She also won silver (as Sabine Paetz) at the 1983 World Championships, both times behind Ramona Neubert. At the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul (as Sabine John) she won the silver medal behind the still standing world record performance of Jackie Joyner Kersee. Her personal best score in the heptathlon was 6946 points, achieved in May 1984 in Potsdam.
