12 Facts About Birgit Kober

Birgit Kober was born on 10 July 1971 and is a German Paralympic athlete.

Birgit Kober initially competed in F34 seated throwing events, and from 2011 to 2013 she became the reigning champion at European, World and Paralympic level in both shot put and javelin in her class.

Birgit Kober won the F36 shot put at the 2016 Summer Paralympic Games with a Paralympic record throw.

Birgit Kober took to sport at a young age, and by 14 she was involved in athletics and the javelin throw while at school in Munich.

Birgit Kober continued her education, specializing in medicine but was forced to cut her studies in 2006 to help care for her sick mother.

In 2007 Kober suffered from a status epilepticus and she was rushed to hospital, but after complications she was left with ataxia.

Birgit Kober returned to athletics in 2008, mainly as a form of enjoyment with no serious ambitions to take the sport further.

Birgit Kober joined TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen where she was coached by Joachim Lipske.

Birgit Kober was quickly identified as a potential talent in throwing events and by 2009 she was competing in national competitions.

Birgit Kober again dominated the field taking both gold medals and recording a world record in the shot put with a throw of 10.06m.

Birgit Kober defended her World titles when she travelled to Lyon for the 2013 World Championships.

Birgit Kober took both the javelin throw and shot put titles, equaling her world record throw in the javelin.