Barbara Krause Biography: Awards, Parents, Husband, Net Worth, Age, Height, Olympics
Barbara Krause is a German former competitive swimmer and professional photographer who became one of the most successful female freestyle swimmers of the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Representing East Germany, she achieved international prominence after winning three gold medals at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow and becoming the first woman to swim the 100-meter freestyle in under 55 seconds.
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Barbara also became a world-record holder, setting multiple records during her competitive career before retiring at 21.
Her sporting legacy was later examined in the context of East Germany’s state-sponsored doping system, which involved the systematic administration of performance-enhancing substances to young athletes.
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| Wiki Facts & About Data | |
| Name: | Barbara Krause |
| Born: | July 7, 1959 (age 67 years old) |
| Place of Birth: | East Berlin, East Germany |
| Nationality: | German, East German |
| Ethnicity: | German |
| Height: | 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 meters) |
| Religion: | Christianity |
| Parents: | Mr. and Mrs. Krause |
| Spouse: | Lutz Wanja |
| Relationship: | Married |
| Children: | Robert Wanja and one other child |
| Occupation: | Former Competitive Swimmer, Professional Photographer |
| Net Worth: | $2 million |
Early Life and Education
Barbara Krause was born on July 7, 1959, in East Berlin, East Germany, and is 67 years old.
She grew up under East Germany’s highly structured sports system. A pediatrician recommended swimming exercises to help correct posture problems during her childhood.
Sports officials soon noticed her physical abilities, leading to her enrollment at SC Dynamo Berlin, one of East Germany’s leading sports clubs. She underwent intensive training and regular physical assessments as she developed into an elite swimmer.
After retiring from competitive swimming in her early twenties, Krause moved away from professional sport and developed an interest in photography. She later trained professionally and became a commercial photographer in Germany.
Personal Life
Barbara Krause is married to fellow former East German international swimmer Lutz Wanja. The couple married after the 1980 Olympic Games and have two children, including their son Robert Wanja.
Both of their children were reportedly born with clubfoot deformities. Krause later connected the children’s health problems to her exposure to performance-enhancing substances during her swimming career. She has largely kept her family life private while continuing her work in photography.
Career
Barbara Krause began competing internationally in the mid-1970s and quickly became one of East Germany’s leading freestyle swimmers.
In 1975, she won gold in the 4×100-meter freestyle relay at the World Championships in Cali. She continued her rise at the 1977 European Championships, where she won three gold medals.
The following year, she became the 100-meter freestyle world champion at the 1978 World Championships in West Berlin and was recognized as European Swimmer of the Year.
Barbara reached the peak of her athletic career at the 1980 Moscow Olympics. She won gold medals in the 100-meter freestyle, 200-meter freestyle, and 4×100-meter freestyle relay. In the 100-meter freestyle, she became the first woman to break the 55-second barrier officially.
After the Moscow Games, Barbara retired from competitive swimming at 21. She later pursued photography and built a professional career outside competitive sport.
Awards
- World Aquatics Championships, Cali (1975): Gold Medal, 4×100-meter Freestyle Relay
- European Aquatics Championships, Jönköping (1977): Gold Medal, 100-meter Freestyle
- European Aquatics Championships, Jönköping (1977): Gold Medal, 4×100-meter Freestyle Relay
- European Aquatics Championships, Jönköping (1977): Gold Medal, 4×100-meter Medley Relay
- European Swimmer of the Year (1978)
- World Aquatics Championships, West Berlin (1978): Gold Medal, 100-meter Freestyle
- Summer Olympics, Moscow (1980): Gold Medal, 100-meter Freestyle
- Summer Olympics, Moscow (1980): Gold Medal, 200-meter Freestyle
- Summer Olympics, Moscow (1980): Gold Medal, 4×100-meter Freestyle Relay
- International Swimming Hall of Fame (1988): Honor Swimmer
Net Worth
Barbara Krause has an estimated net worth of $2 million.
Her financial standing has been attributed primarily to her post-athletic career in professional photography and commercial work.
Filmography
- The Secret History of Doping (2001)
- Doping Ost (2013)
What People Ask
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