Evelin Jahl

Evelin Jahl

Personal information
Birth name	Evelin Schlaak
Born	(1956-03-28) March 28, 1956 Annaberg-Buchholz, Saxony, East Germany
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	90 kg (200 lb)
Sport
Sport	Athletics
Event(s)	Discus
Club	ASK Vorwärts Potsdam
Coached by	Lothar Hillebrandt
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	71.50 m (1980)
Medal record Women's Athletics Representing East Germany Olympic Games 1976 Montreal Discus 1980 Moscow Discus IAAF World Cup 1979 Montreal Discus 1981 Rome Discus European Championships 1978 Prague Discus Universiade 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. Jahl was the only discus thrower who could achieve two Olympic gold medals.

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

• Schlaak-Jahl-Herberg rzutyiskoki.pl (Polish)
• Sports Reference

Records
Preceded by Faina Melnyk	Women's Discus World Record Holder 12 August 1978 – 15 July 1980	Succeeded by Mariya Petkova
Sporting positions
Preceded by Sabine Engel Mariya Petkova	Women's Discus Best Year Performance 1978–1979 1981	Succeeded by Mariya Petkova Irina Meszynski