Competing in three Winter Olympics, she won two medals in the women's singles event, a gold in 1976 and a bronze in 1972.

At the FIL European Luge Championships, Schumann won five medals with three golds (1973–1975), one silver (1977), and one bronze (1979).

She then began work at Oberhof coaching juniors before she became an East German team selector.

Following reunification in 1990 she took a position as a Personnel specialist with the military Sports Promotion group at Oberhof.

In 2004, Schumann was among the first three inductees into the International Luge Federation (FIL) Hall of Fame, along with Klaus Bonsack and Paul Hildgartner.