Rita Kirst

Rita Kirst

Rita Schmidt in 1968
Personal information
Born	(1950-10-21) 21 October 1950 Großgrimma, Germany
Height	1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Weight	64 kg (141 lb)
Sport
Sport	High jump
Club	SC DHfK, Leipzig
Medal record Representing East Germany European Championships (indoors) 1968 Madrid High jump 1969 Belgrade High jump 1972 Grenoble High jump 1970 Vienna High jump 1974 Gothenburg High jump

Rita Kirst (née Schmidt on 21 October 1950) is a retired German high jumper. She competed at the 1968, 1972 and 1976 Summer Olympics and finished in fifth, fifth and 22nd place, respectively. Between 1968 and 1974 she won three gold and two bronze medals at the European indoor championships. Her personal best is 1.92 m (1974).

She became East German champion six times in a row from 1967 through 1972, then won three silver medals in 1973, 1974 and 1976 and a final gold medal in 1975. She also became East German indoor champion in 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1972. She competed for the sports club SC DHfK Leipzig, and after marrying, ASK Vorwärts Potsdam.

In 1972 she married Joachim Kirst, an Olympic decathlete, and later competed as Rita Kirst. Her sister-in-law Jutta Kirst won a bronze medal in high jump at the 1980 Olympics.