Heike Friedrich (born 18 April 1970 in Karl-Marx-Stadt, Saxony) is a former freestyle swimmer from East Germany, who won two medals at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea.

At the age of 15, Friedrich won five gold medals in the 1985 European championships and won four more in the World Championship the next year. She had not lost in a single major international championship in any event until she was defeated by Janet Evans in the 400 m in the Seoul Olympics, taking the silver medal. Friedrich had already won the gold medal in the 200 m freestyle on the previous day.

Heike Friedrich

In October 1986, she was awarded a Star of People's Friendship in gold (second class) for her sporting success.

Heike Friedrich

References

External links

1970 births

Living people

East German female freestyle swimmers

Olympic swimmers for East Germany

Olympic gold medalists for East Germany

Olympic silver medalists for East Germany

Olympic gold medalists in swimming

Olympic silver medalists in swimming

Swimmers at the 1988 Summer Olympics

Medalists at the 1988 Summer Olympics

World record setters in swimming

World Aquatics Championships medalists in swimming

European Aquatics Championships medalists in swimming

Recipients of the Patriotic Order of Merit

Sportspeople from Chemnitz

Swimmers from Saxony

Heike Friedrich