Memorial Page for Marita Lange

Marita Lange (born 22 June 1943 in Halle an der Saale; died 12 December 2025) was a German track-and-field athlete from East Germany. As a shot putter she won the silver medal at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City and also reached podium places at European and indoor competitions.

Halle and SV Halle

Lange came from Halle and competed for SV Halle. Shot put in her generation demanded strength, technique and repeatable movement under strong competition pressure. In East Germany athletics was centrally supported; for athletes such as Lange this meant regular training, early specialisation and international competition within a tightly organised sports system.

1968 Olympic Games

On 20 October 1968 Lange competed in the Olympic shot put at the Estadio Olímpico Universitario in Mexico City. With 18.78 metres she led after the first round. Her teammate Margitta Gummel later surpassed her with world-record throws and won gold. Lange took silver ahead of Nadezhda Chizhova of the Soviet Union. For East Germany it was a double success in a technically demanding event.

Further results

Before and after Mexico City, Lange remained competitive internationally. She won medals at European Championships and European Indoor Games, including indoor gold in 1969. At the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich she placed sixth in the shot put. Her personal best of 19.56 metres from 1969 shows the level at which she competed during this period.

After active sport

After her athletic career Lange worked as a teacher and later for the Disability and Rehabilitation Sports Association of Saxony-Anhalt. She also coached, including in the environment of wheelchair athlete Ulrich Iser. In that way she remained connected with sport through organisation, support and training.

Farewell

Marita Lange died on 12 December 2025 after a long illness. She was 82 years old. Her sporting record is especially connected with the silver medal from Mexico City and with shot put in East German athletics.