Rosemarie Ackermann

She was born as Rosemarie Witschas in Lohsa, Sachsen. Under that name, she took part for East Germany in the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, finishing seventh behind Ulrike Meyfarth.

In 1974, at the European Championships in Rome, she won her first international title, setting a new world record (1.95m) along the way. Later that year, she married handball player Manfred Ackermann, and assumed his surname. Two years later, when she won the gold medal at the 1976 Summer Olympics held in Montreal, Canada.[1]

Ackermann competing at the Hochsprung mit Musik meeting, which she won in 1980.

She lost her European title to Italian jumper Sara Simeoni in 1978, when they both cleared the world-record height of 2.01 m. Simeoni was Ackermann's rival.[1] However, Ackermann's early celebrations caused the rod to fall, leaving her with second place. Ackermann retired from athletics after the 1980 Olympics, where she placed fourth, just outside the medals.

Ackermann is the last female high jumper to set a world record using the straddle technique. She's also the last high jumper of either gender to win the Olympic gold medal in the high jump event with that technique.

She became East German champion in 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1979 and 1980, and also won two bronze medals in 1969 and 1972. She also became East German indoor champion in 1973, 1975, 1976, 1977 and 1980. She competed for the sports club SC Cottbus.[2][3]

• Female two metres club

• Rosie Witschas-Ackermann at Olympics at Sports-Reference.com (archived)

Records
Preceded by Yordanka Blagoeva	Women's High Jump World Record Holder 24 August 1972 – 4 August 1978	Succeeded by Sara Simeoni
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Nadia Comăneci	United Press International Athlete of the Year 1977	Succeeded by Tracy Caulkins
Preceded by Kornelia Ender	East German Sportswoman of the Year 1977	Succeeded by Marita Koch
Preceded by Tatyana Kazankina	Women's Track & Field Athlete of the Year 1977	Succeeded by Marita Koch
Sporting positions
Preceded by Unknown	Women's High Jump Best Year Performance 1977	Succeeded by Sara Simeoni
Preceded by Sara Simeoni	Women's High Jump Best Year Performance 1979	Succeeded by Sara Simeoni