It’s dead quiet on August 26, 1977 in the Berlin Olympic Stadium. At the “International Stadium Festival” – the Istaf, the Cottbus high jumper Rosi Ackermann had just two meters put on. The young woman from the GDR is 1.73 meters tall. Never before had a woman in the world achieved that height in a competition. And yet she succeeds in the first attempt.
“The way I landed back then, I jumped so high on the mat for joy because I knew I’d come across.” Ackermann is the first woman to skip the magic mark. “I didn’t realize this achievement until many months later,” says Ackermann many years after her triumph.
Spectators can no longer stay in their seats
Overwhelmed by her emotions, Ackermann lies on the mat with tears in her eyes after her leap of the century. Surrounded by dozens of photographers and TV cameras. Because she was uncomfortable and could be interpreted as a weakness, the then 25-year-old ran away from the photographers. But she doesn’t get far. “But after half a lap of the stadium, I couldn’t take it anymore. The photographers were behind me and the spectators in front of me, who couldn’t keep their seats anymore.”
A curious anecdote: Because GDR television is no longer in the stadium that evening, the pictures from the leap of the century have to be bought later for Western money. After all, you don’t want to withhold this sensation from GDR viewers. In 1977, Ackermann was first GDR sportswoman of the year, and later also Europe’s sportswoman of the year. As a reward for their success, the state leadership shortened the waiting time for their new Wartburg by almost two years. Instead of 18 years, Ackermann only has to wait 16 for her new car.
GDR television missed the leap of the century
Three years after the magical evening in Berlin, it’s over. His sporting career ended with fourth place at the Olympic Games in Moscow. “I literally hung up my shoes. After the competition I never put them back on.” How extraordinary the achievements of the Lausitzer were, is also clear from the fact that two meters is still a magical limit today. At the last Olympic Games in Tokyo, Ackermann would have won bronze with this height. And that almost 45 years after their success.
Ackermann worked at SC Cottbus until reunification. She then becomes a clerk at the Federal Employment Agency. The Cottbus resident retired in 2015 and has been enjoying the time with her husband ever since. “Pensioners never have time. Because our time goes by faster because you have to do everything more carefully and slowly,” says the now 70-year-old.
The athlete of the century has withdrawn from the public. Interviews are very rare. Today she will be celebrating with her family and friends and maybe in this context she will speak again about that evening in August 1977 that made her world famous.
Broadcast: Inforadio, April 4th, 2022, 8:15 a.m
Source: rbb