Marita Koch

Marita Koch is a German former sprinter, born on February 18, 1957, in Wismar. Representing East Germany throughout her career, she is widely regarded as one of the greatest female sprint athletes in the history of track and field.

Koch was one of the most prolific record-breakers the sport has ever seen, setting an extraordinary 30 world records over the course of her career, including 16 in outdoor events and 14 indoors. Her crowning achievement is the 400 metres world record of 47.60 seconds, set on October 6, 1985, a mark that has never been surpassed.

Koch's 400 metres world record remains one of the longest-standing records in all of track and field, a testament to the extraordinary level of performance she achieved. Her dominance across sprint distances, from 200 metres to 400 metres, both indoors and outdoors, places her in a class of her own among female sprinters.