Monika Pflug

Who is Monika Pflug?

Monika Pflug, also known as Monika Holzner-Pflug and Monika Gawenus-Pflug, is a former speed skater from Germany. She was born in Munich and competed for West Germany.

Pflug's talent for speed skating was discovered in 1968 and the very next year, she already became Junior National Champion. In 1970, she set a national record on the 1,000 m and in 1971, she became National Sprint Champion. The next year, 1972, was her best year; she first became National Allround Champion, then, one month later, she won gold on the 1,000 m at the 1972 Winter Olympics of Sapporo, and two weeks after that, she became World Sprint Champion.

After getting married, Pflug started competing as Monika Holzner-Pflug in the 1974-1975 season. The marriage was short-lived, however, and after her divorce she competed as Monika Pflug again. In 1984, Pflug got married to fellow speed skater Fritz Gawenus, a multiple National Champion. From then on, she competed as Monika Gawenus-Pflug.

Pflug would compete in a total of five Winter Olympics between 1972 and 1988, but did not win any more Olympic medals. At the World Sprint Championships, she won three more medals, all bronze, in 1973, 1974, and 1982.