Born: 1952
Karin Büttner-Janz (née Janz, born 17 February 1952) is a German medical doctor who won world and Olympic gold medals in artistic gymnastics for East Germany. From 1990 to 2012, she was chief physician of clinics in Berlin, Germany. She has a foundation named Spinefoundation.
Gymnastics Career:
Karin Büttner-Janz began her gymnastics journey under the guidance of her father, Guido Janz, who instilled in her excellent basics. She then moved to a sports school in Forst, where she trained under the tutelage of Klaus Helbeck. However, it was her final coach, Jürgen Heritz, who would ultimately shape her career.
At the age of 15, Büttner-Janz gained recognition as the East German Athlete of the Year in 1967. This honor came after she won a silver medal on the uneven bars and a bronze medal on the vault at the European Championship in Amsterdam. Her success continued at the 1968 Summer Olympics, where she secured a silver medal on the uneven bars and a bronze medal as part of the East German gymnastics team.
In 1970, Büttner-Janz showcased her exceptional skills on the uneven bars at the World Championships, defeating Ludmilla Tourischeva to claim the gold medal. She continued her triumphant streak at the 1972 Munich Olympics, winning another gold medal on the uneven bars by surpassing her fierce rival, Olga Korbut. Büttner-Janz also captured the gold medal on the vault, a silver medal with the East German women’s gymnastics team, and a distinguished silver medal in the all-around competition. Despite outscoring Tourischeva by a significant margin in the event finals, she was denied the All-Around title, a decision that many considered controversial.
Her success at the 1972 Summer Olympics led to her being crowned the GDR (German Democratic Republic) Sportswoman of the Year. With her exceptional performances and multiple Olympic and World Championship medals, Büttner-Janz became the most successful German athlete at the prestigious event held in Munich.
Motivated by her achievements in gymnastics, Büttner-Janz made the decision to retire from competitive sports and pursue a career in medicine. She enrolled at the Humboldt University in East Berlin in 1971, where she studied emergency medicine and earned her diploma. During her studies, she completed her clinical semester at the orthopedic hospital of the Charité and became particularly interested in orthopedics. She furthered her expertise by conducting extensive research on the development of an artificial spine disk known as the Charité Disc. Through her dedication and commitment, she obtained her postdoctoral lecture qualification (habilitation treatise).
Academic achievements:
Büttner-Janz’s contributions as an academic physician are notable. Together with Kurt Schellnack, she developed the Charité Disc, an artificial spine disk that has revolutionized the field of orthopedics. This ground-breaking invention has provided new possibilities for patients suffering from spinal disorders.
In addition to her medical career, Büttner-Janz has also established herself as the chief physician of clinics in Berlin, Germany, a role she held from 1990 to 2012.
Awards:
– GDR Sportswoman of the Year (1972)