Britta Steffen News- maker 2009
Two world records. Two Olympic gold medals. Reigning world champion over 50 and 100 metres. And so very nearly it didn't happen. Britta Steffen gave up swimming after the Olympic games in 2004. She says herself of the time that she was scared of swimming, of failure and of public expectation.
 Britta Steffen is also an ambassador for "100% erneuerbar" - a project promoting the use of renewable energy (C) 100% erneuerbar She returned to the pool and, in 2008, swam at the Beijing Olympics. Commentators and fans were unsure what to expect – a triumphant return or a failure. Britta Stephen overcame the trauma of her previous two Olympics – good form in the build-up to the event, but not delivering when it mattered – and won two gold medals.
Following her triumphs at the Olympics, Britta Steffen brushed aside speculations in the media about her retirement – explaining that her newly found confidence had given her the freedom to swim without a pre-determined outcome, medal or goal in sight.
Having overcome her past burdens, this year at the swimming World Championships in Rome she broke two world records in her favored disciplines, the women’s 50 and 100 metre freestyle. That completes a series of national, international and Olympic titles to add to her tally.
Early starter
The 26 year old was born in 1983 in Schwedt, a little town in the former German Democratic Republic. Her talent in the water soon became apparent and at the tender age of 12 she went to a specialised sports boarding school in Potsdam.
At the age of 15 she announced herself to the swimming world by winning six gold medals at the junior European championships in 1999. Three in the individual events, and three in the relays. There followed a few years where she battled with the curse of under-performing at crucial moments.
After a years break from swimming – concentrating on her studies of environmental engineering, sustainability and management at the Beuth University of Applied Sciences, she returned to swimming. With the help of a sports psychologist she re-discovered her passion for swimming and with it, success followed.
Britta continues to train with her long-term coach Norbert Warnatzsch at the swimming club SG Neukölln in Berlin. Publicly she has admitted that her goal is to participate in the London Olympic Games in 2012. Whatever happens – medals or records aside, one thing is for sure – Britta will be enjoying herself.
Some of Britta's greatest swims on Youtube:
50 meter freestyle world record, Rome 2009
100 meter freestyle world record, Rome 2009
Beijing Olympic games 2008, 100 meter gold medal
Beijing Olympic games 2008, 50 meter gold medal
Photo courtesy of "100% erneuerbar" - a project promoting the use of renewable energy for which Britta Steffen is an ambassador.
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