About Barbara Krause
Born 1959. Barbara Krause is a German swimmer and artist.
Barbara Krause (later Wanja, born on 7 July 1959 in East Berlin) is a former freestyle swimmer from East Germany. She was a three-time Olympic gold medalist and eight-time world record holder. At the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, Krause won gold medals in the 100 m and 200 m freestyle and in the 4×100 m freestyle relay.
Her husband, Lutz Wanja, is also a retired German Olympic swimmer.
East German doping
Krause, like many of the East German athletes of that time, was doped by her coaches under instruction from the Stasi. At the time of the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal Krause was forced off the East German swimming team because "team doctors had miscalculated her dose of drugs and worried she might test positive at the Games".
Both of her children were born with deformed feet, which was later attributed to her use of steroids.
Don’t just read it —
keep it.
Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.
- E-book
- Audio
- Video
Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
People in Barbara Krause's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Barbara Krause's
Frequently asked questions
Who is Barbara Krause?
East German swimmer
When was Barbara Krause born?
Barbara Krause was born on 7 July 1959 in East Berlin.
What is Barbara Krause's occupation?
Barbara Krause is a swimmer and artist.
What nationality is Barbara Krause?
Barbara Krause is German.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Barbara Krause. https://biography.guide/barbara-krause/
MLA: "Barbara Krause." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/barbara-krause/.
Chicago: "Barbara Krause." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/barbara-krause/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Page generated 2026-09-27 05:24 UTC