Karen Forkel

Karen Forkel (September 24, 1970 in Wolfen) is a German track and field athlete and an Olympic medal winner. In the 1990s she was among the world's best javelin throwers. Her biggest success came in the 1992 Summer Olympics when she took the bronze medal with a throw of 66.86 meters.

Her personal best throw was 65.17 metres, achieved in July 1999 in Erfurt. This ranks her fourth among German javelin throwers, behind Christina Obergföll, Tanja Damaske and Steffi Nerius. [http://www.leichtathletik.de/dokumente/ergebnisse/images/ewige_dlv_bestenliste.pdf Microsoft Word - Ewige DLV-Bestenliste.doc ] ] With the old javelin type she threw 70.20 metres in May 1991 in Halle. This ranks her fifth among German old-type-javelin throwers, behind Petra Felke (who held the world record), Antje Kempe, Silke Renk and Beate Koch.b]

Results

In competition, Forkel represented East Germany up until 1990, and Germany thereafter.
* 1987 – European Junior Championships: 3rd place (57.00)
* 1988 – World Junior Championships: 1st place (61.44)
* 1989 – European Junior Championships: 1st place (70.12)
* 1990 – European Championships: 2nd place (60.36 - 60.64 - 67.56 - 59.48 - 62.40 - 64.22).
* 1991 – World Championships: 12th place (57.90)
* 1992 – World Championships: 3rd place (65.02 - DQ - 62.76 - 65.84 - 66.86 - 66.80)
* 1993 – World Championships: 2nd place (65.80); European cup final: 2nd place (61.92)
* 1994 – European Championships: 2nd place (66.10 m), World cup final: 3rd place (61.26); European cup final: 2nd place (65.58)
* 1996 – World Championships: 6nd place (64.18)
* 1996 – Summer Olympics: sixth place
* 1997 – World Championships: eliminated during qualification
* 1999 – World Championships: 12th place (54.65)
* 2000 – Europacup Final: 6th place (52.89)

Forkel represented SC Chemie Halle, which after the German reunification was renamed SV Halle. During her career she was 1.72 meters tall and weighed 63 kilograms.

References