Evelin Jahl

Evelin Jahl

Medal record
Women's Athletics
Competitor for  East Germany
Olympic Games
Gold	1976 Montreal	Discus
Gold	1980 Moscow	Discus
IAAF World Cup
Gold	1979 Montreal	Discus
Gold	1981 Rome	Discus

Evelin Jahl, née Schlaak (born 28 March 1956 in Annaberg-Buchholz, Saxony, East Germany) is a German former discus thrower, who won two Olympic gold medals as an athlete representing East Germany.

Biography

In 1976 she won the women's discus throwing event at the Montreal Summer Olympics. This was the beginning of a steep ascent: She defeated world record holder Faina Melnyk who was the undisputed favourite to win. In 1978 she set a new world record and also won the European Championships.

Two years later Jahl defended the Olympic title in Moscow, again relegating Vergova, also competing under her married name (Petkova), into second place. She improved her own world record in doing so. Jahl was the only discus thrower who could achieve two Olympic gold medals.

She retired from professional sport in 1982 after an injury.

She later became GDR chairperson of a commission in the GDR track and field association DVfL.

References

External links

• Schlaak-Jahl-Herberg rzutyiskoki.pl {{{2}}}
• Sports Reference

Records
Preceded by Faina Melnyk	Women's Discus World Record Holder 12 August 1978 – 15 July 1980	Succeeded by Mariya Petkova
Sporting positions
Preceded by Sabine Engel	Women's Discus Best Year Performance 1978 – 1979	Succeeded by Mariya Petkova
Preceded by Mariya Petkova	Women's Discus Best Year Performance 1981	Succeeded by Irina Meszynski