At the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, she won gold medals in the 100 m butterfly, 4×100 m freestyle relay team and 4×100 m medley relay, becoming the most successful female competitor of the Summer Olympic Games that year.

After winning a world title in the 4×100 m freestyle relay in 1982, she terminated her short career and became a school teacher.

During her career she set three world records in relay events.

[2] After German unification she worked as a swimming coach at her home club SC Empor Rostock.

This article about a swimming Olympic medalist for Germany is a stub.