Mourning for Ruth Fuchs: The 1972 and 1976 Olympic javelin throw champion died at the age of 76. this was confirmed by her party, Die Linke.
Mourning for Ruth Fuchs: The javelin throwOlympic champion from 1972 and 1976 died at the age of 76. This was confirmed by her party Die Linke on Wednesday (September 20, 2023).
After her sports career, the athlete switched to politics, sitting for the PDS in the People’s Chamber of the GDR after the fall of communism, and later also in the Bundestag and the state parliament of Thuringia.
“Committed fighter for social justice”
“It is with deep sadness that we remember today an extraordinary personality, Ruth Fuchs, who has left us forever. Ruth Fuchs was not only a committed fighter for social justice, but also a tireless advocate for the interests of sport in Thuringia.”said Steffen Dittes, chairman of the Die Linke parliamentary group in the Thuringian state parliament: “Ruth Fuchs will be remembered not only as an outstanding athlete and politician, but also as a committed and combative woman who was always ready to help others.”
In addition to her Olympic victories, Fuchs also won European Championship gold twice in 1974 and 1978, she set a total of six world records and was awarded the Fatherland Order of Merit in gold in 1976 and 1980.