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Evelin Jahl

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Evelin Jahl
Personal information
Birth nameEvelin Schlaak
Born (1956-03-28) March 28, 1956 (age 68)
Annaberg-Buchholz, Saxony, East Germany
Height1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight84 kg (185 lb)
Sport
SportAthletics
EventDiscus
ClubASK Vorwärts Potsdam
Coached byLothar Hillebrandt
Achievements and titles
Personal best71.50 m (1980)
Medal record
Women's Athletics
Representing  East Germany
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1976 Montreal Discus
Gold medal – first place 1980 Moscow Discus
IAAF World Cup
Gold medal – first place 1979 Montreal Discus
Gold medal – first place 1981 Rome Discus
European Championships
Gold medal – first place 1978 Prague Discus
Universiade
Silver medal – second place 1979 Mexico City Discus throw

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. 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. From 1980 until 2016 Jahl was the only discus thrower to defend her Olympic title and win two Olympic gold medals. Her feat was equaled by Sandra Perković of Croatia on 17 August 2016 at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

She retired from throwing in 1982 after an injury.

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

References

Records
Preceded by Women's Discus World Record Holder
12 August 1978 – 15 July 1980
Succeeded by
Sporting positions
Preceded by Women's Discus Best Year Performance
1978–1979
1981
Succeeded by