Born: 1948 (Karl-Marx-Stadt, Germany)
Biography:
Gabriele Gaby Seyfert (later Rüger, then Messerschmidt, now Körner) was a German figure skater who achieved remarkable success during her career. Born on November 23, 1948, Seyfert became a two-time World champion and the 1968 Olympic silver medalist. She is also remembered as the first lady to successfully land a triple loop jump in competition.
Seyfert skated for the SC Karl-Marx-Stadt club and proudly represented East Germany. Throughout her career, her mother Jutta Müller served as her coach, who also later coached the 1984 and 1988 Olympic champion, Katarina Witt. Seyfert developed a long-standing rivalry with American figure skater Peggy Fleming, although she never managed to defeat her. Despite this, her exceptional talent and achievements did not go unnoticed, as she was voted as the GDR female athlete of the year in 1966, after winning two silver medals at the European and World Championships.
One of Seyfert’s most notable contributions to the sport was being the first woman to land a clean triple loop jump. This achievement further solidified her place in figure skating history. However, following her impressive career, Seyfert faced a disappointing setback. Unlike her American counterpart Peggy Fleming, she was not permitted to skate professionally. In fact, East German authorities refused offers made by Holiday on Ice for Seyfert to skate professionally.
Undeterred by these obstacles, Seyfert turned to coaching and worked with fellow figure skater Anett Pötzsch in the early 1970s. However, the East German coach hierarchy later transferred Pötzsch to Jutta Müller’s group, leading to Seyfert eventually concluding her coaching career.
Outside of figure skating, Seyfert had an eventful personal life. She married ice dancer Eberhard Rüger in 1972, and they welcomed a daughter in 1974. After their marriage ended, she married Jochen Messerschmidt before marrying Egbert Körner in 2011. Following the conclusion of her coaching career, Seyfert pursued her passion for languages by studying at university. She then worked as a professional translator.
From 1985 to 1991, Seyfert led the ice ballet at the Friedrichstadtpalast in East Berlin, where she occasionally performed as a skater as well. However, after the ice ballet was closed, she transitioned to working in the service industry in Berlin. Currently, Seyfert resides in Berlin-Karow.
The captivating figure skating career and later endeavors of Gabriele Seyfert not only made an impact in the sport but also revealed her determination and resilience. Her contributions to figure skating and the barriers she faced serve as a reminder of the challenges many women athletes encountered during this period in history.
Awards:
– Two-time World champion (1969, 1970)
– 1968 Olympic silver medalist
– Voted as the GDR female athlete of the year in 1966