Kristin Otto is a German Olympic swimming champion.
10 Facts About Kristin Otto
2.
Kristin Otto is most famous for being the first woman to win six gold medals at a single Olympic Games, doing so at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games.
3.
Kristin Otto was born in Leipzig, Bezirk Leipzig, East Germany, and began swimming at the age of 11, training in an East German sports academy.
4.
At the following European Championships in 1983, Kristin Otto finished second in the 100 meter freestyle, following her fellow East German, Birgit Meineke.
5.
In 1984, Kristin Otto set a world record in the 200 meter freestyle.
6.
Kristin Otto was expected to win gold medals at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, but was unable to compete due to the boycott by 14 Eastern Bloc countries, including East Germany.
7.
Kristin Otto returned to competitive swimming at the 1986 World Championships in Madrid, where she won 4 gold medals and 2 silver medals.
8.
Kristin Otto's success continued the following year at the 1987 European Championships where she won 5 gold medals.
9.
Kristin Otto was named the Female World Swimmer of the Year in 1984,1986 and 1988 by Swimming World.
10.
Kristin Otto's career was marred by the revelations of widespread performance-enhancing drugs used by East German athletes: former teammate Petra Schneider openly admitted that she had used banned substances.