The 400 metres world record of 47.60 seconds, established on 6 October 1985 in Canberra, remains the longest-standing mark in the event. This performance by German sprinter Marita Koch solidified her status as the premier athlete in her discipline, following a career defined by extensive world record tallies and multiple international titles representing East Germany.
Early Development and Training
Born in 1957 in Wismar, Marita Koch demonstrated athletic speed during her schooling. By age 15, she began training under Wolfgang Meier, a naval engineer who coached athletics part-time. The pair moved to Rostock, where Koch initially pursued medical studies before abandoning them to prioritize her competitive career. She remained under Meier’s guidance throughout her tenure as a sprinter, and they later married.
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Koch set 16 world records in outdoor sprints and 14 in indoor events throughout her career. Her 200 metres time of 21.71 seconds, set in 1979 at Karl-Marx-Stadt, remained a world record for nine years. During the 1980 Moscow Olympics, she secured the gold medal in the 400 metres. Additionally, she claimed European Championship titles in the 400 metres in 1978, 1982, and 1986. She retired from professional competition in 1987 due to an Achilles tendon injury.
The 1985 World Cup Performance
The 47.60-second record set in Canberra featured a rapid start that effectively eliminated the competition before the final turn. Her 100-metre split was 11.3 seconds, with a 200-metre split of 22.4 seconds. By the 300-metre mark, she held an advantage of 34.1 seconds. She finished ahead of Olga Bryzhina, who recorded 48.27 seconds, while the remainder of the field trailed significantly behind.
Allegations of Performance Enhancement
Koch's athletic career faced scrutiny regarding the use of illegal performance-enhancing drugs common among East German athletes. Research conducted by Brigitte Berendonk and Werner Franke in 1991 identified documentation indicating that Koch received anabolic steroids, specifically Oral-Turinabol, between 1981 and 1984. Sources suggest these regimens were part of a systematic state-sponsored program.
Fast facts
- Born: 1957, Wismar
- 400m World Record: 47.60 seconds
- IAAF Hall of Fame: 2014
- Olympic Gold: 1980, 400 metres
- Retirement: 1987
- Spouse: Wolfgang Meier
- Awards: East German Sportspersonality of the Year (1978, 1979, 1982, 1983, 1985)
Questions readers ask
Does Marita Koch still hold the 400-metre world record?
Yes, her time of 47.60 seconds set in 1985 remains the official world record.
What happened to her medical studies?
She began studying medicine in Rostock but chose to discontinue them to focus entirely on her athletics career.
Achievements
- East German Sportspersonality of the Year
- IAAF Hall of Fame
- Patriotic Order of Merit in Silver
- Patriotic Order of Merit in Bronze
- Patriotic Order of Merit in Gold
- Competed at the 1976 Summer Olympics
- Competed at the 1980 Summer Olympics
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