Karin Enke
Karin Enke ( born June 20, 1961 in Dresden) is a former German speed skater. It has become known by multiple marriages under various names: from 1981 as Karin Busch- sink from 1984 when Karin Kania, after the end of her career in 1988 as Karin Enke- Richter.
Starting for the GDR, they certain in the 1980s with the world's best. She was three times Olympic Champion: 1980 and 1984 on three different tracks. There are also four silver medals and one bronze medal.
Career
Her international career began in early 1980 with a modest 17th place in the all-around championship. Just four weeks later, she became world champion in the sprint four-way battle for two weeks on Olympic champion over 500 meters in Lake Placid. In the following years, she quickly rose to become the dominant runner of the international high-speed scene. In the winners' list, she moved with the other top runners, Christa Roth Burger, Andrea Beautiful ( Ehrig ) and Gabi pliers ( Schönbrunn ) from. But while Rothenburg was more specialized in the sprints and Beautiful on the longer distances and pliers usually the second or third places occupied behind them, Karin Enke dominated all the routes. Although it was a bit better on the shorter and medium-range, they also finished on 3000 and later 5000 meters often top positions. It was long regarded as the best all-rounder in the world, which she confirmed with eleven world titles in sprint and small four- fight and ten world records ( 1982-1987 ) at all distances from 500 to 3000 meters as well as in the all around. 21 World Cup victories complete their track record. During their three European appearances from 1981 to 1983, she took second place respectively. Later she left the participation their association mates and focused as the best runner on the more significant events such as World Cup and Olympic Games. As the first woman she ran the 1500 meters under two minutes. This world record ( 1:59:30 ) set up in 1986 to the mountain railway medeo (Alma- Ata, Kazakhstan) had far into the hinged skate era into existence and could be improved by Catriona LeMay Doan - only in 1997.
Until the era of Gunda Niemann- Stirnemann Karin Enke was the most successful German speed skater. Unlike its successor their certified experts unanimously an aesthetically perfect and technically one of the most sophisticated running styles, the power and speed ideally combined. After the Olympic silver medal in the 1500 meters in Calgary in 1988 and the subsequent world champion in the all around a few weeks later she finished her international career. After the 1987/88 season she explained together with their teammates pliers and Ehrig the official resignation of the "big three " of the skating sport.
Karin Enke started for the earlier SC Einheit Dresden ( successor: Skating Club Dresden eV) and was successful coach Rainer serves mouth.
In 1984 she was awarded the Patriotic Order of Merit in gold. At the conclusion of her racing career in 1988, she received the Order of Star of People's Friendship in gold.
Other successes
- 3 x Silver ( 1981, 1982, 1983)
- 2 gold medals ( 1982, 1983)
- 2 gold medals ( 1984, 1986)
- 1 x Silver ( 1983)
- 500 m 3 x Gold ( 1983, 1984, 1987)
- 2 x Silver ( 1986, 1988)
- 1 x Bronze (1980 )
- 5 x Gold ( 1980, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1988)
- 3 x Gold ( 1983, 1984, 1988)
- 2 x Silver ( 1980, 1986)