View source for Claudia Pechstein

{{short description|German speed skater}}
{{use dmy dates|date=February 2017}}
{{expand German|topic=bio|date=February 2022|Claudia Pechstein}}
{{Infobox speed skater
| name           = 
| image          = 2022-02-23 Empfang der Berliner Teilnehmenden der Olympischen Winterspiele 2022 by Sandro Halank–039.jpg
| alt            = 
| caption        = Pechstein in 2022
| headercolor    = #d7ecff
| nationality    = German
| birth_date     = {{birth date and age|1972|2|22|df=y}}
| birth_place    = [[East Berlin]], East Germany
| height         = <!-- {{convert|}} (yyyy) -->
| weight         = <!-- {{convert|}} (yyyy) -->
| country        = {{GER}} (1990–)<br/>{{GDR}} (1988–1990)
| turnedpro      = 1988
| show-medals    = no
| medaltemplates = 
{{MedalSport|Women's [[speed skating]]}}
{{Medal|Country|{{GER}}}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[Speed skating at the Winter Olympics|Olympic Games]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1994 Winter Olympics|1994 Lillehammer]]|[[Speed skating at the 1994 Winter Olympics – Women's 5000 metres|5000 m]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1998 Winter Olympics|1998 Nagano]]|[[Speed skating at the 1998 Winter Olympics – Women's 5000 metres|5000 m]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[2002 Winter Olympics|2002 Salt Lake City]]|[[Speed skating at the 2002 Winter Olympics – Women's 3000 metres|3000 m]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[2002 Winter Olympics|2002 Salt Lake City]]|[[Speed skating at the 2002 Winter Olympics – Women's 5000 metres|5000 m]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[2006 Winter Olympics|2006 Turin]]|[[Speed skating at the 2006 Winter Olympics – Women's team pursuit|Team pursuit]]}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[1998 Winter Olympics|1998 Nagano]]|[[Speed skating at the 1998 Winter Olympics – Women's 3000 metres|3000 m]]}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[2006 Winter Olympics|2006 Turin]]|[[Speed skating at the 2006 Winter Olympics – Women's 5000 metres|5000 m]]}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[1992 Winter Olympics|1992 Albertville]]|[[Speed skating at the 1992 Winter Olympics – Women's 5000 metres|5000 m]]}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[1994 Winter Olympics|1994 Lillehammer]]|[[Speed skating at the 1994 Winter Olympics – Women's 3000 metres|3000 m]]}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[World Speed Skating Championships|World Championships]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1996 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships|1996 Hamar]]|5000 m}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[2000 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships|2000 Nagano]]|1500 m}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[2000 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships|2000 Nagano]]|3000 m}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[2000 World Allround Speed Skating Championships|2000 Milwaukee]]|Allround}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[2003 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships|2003 Berlin]]|5000 m}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[2004 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships|2004 Seoul]]|3000 m}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[1996 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships|1996 Hamar]]|1500 m}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[1996 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships|1996 Hamar]]|3000 m}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[1996 World Allround Speed Skating Championships|1996 Inzell]]|Allround}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[1997 World Allround Speed Skating Championships|1997 Nagano]]|Allround}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[1998 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships|1998 Calgary]]|3000 m}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[1998 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships|1998 Calgary]]|5000 m}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[1998 World Allround Speed Skating Championships|1998 Heerenveen]]|Allround}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[1999 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships|1999 Heerenveen]]|3000 m}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[1999 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships|1999 Heerenveen]]|5000 m}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[1999 World Allround Speed Skating Championships|1999 Hamar]]|Allround}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[2000 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships|2000 Nagano]]|5000 m}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[2001 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships|2001 Salt Lake City]]|5000 m}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[2001 World Allround Speed Skating Championships|2001 Budapest]]|Allround}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[2003 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships|2003 Berlin]]|3000 m}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[2003 World Allround Speed Skating Championships|2003 Gothenburg]]|Allround}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[2004 World Allround Speed Skating Championships|2004 Hamar]]|Allround}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[2005 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships|2005 Inzell]]|3000 m}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[2005 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships|2005 Inzell]]|5000 m}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[2006 World Allround Speed Skating Championships|2006 Calgary]]|Allround}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[2007 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships|2007 Salt Lake City]]|5000 m}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[2017 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships|2017 Gangneung]]|[[2017 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships – Women's 5000 metres|5000 m]]}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[1998 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships|1998 Calgary]]|1500 m}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[1997 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships|1997 Warszawa]]|5000 m}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[2001 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships|2001 Salt Lake City]]|3000 m}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[2002 World Allround Speed Skating Championships|2002 Heerenveen]]|Allround}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[2004 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships|2004 Seoul]]|5000 m}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[2005 World Allround Speed Skating Championships|2005 Moscow]]|Allround}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[2007 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships|2007 Salt Lake City]]|Team pursuit}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[2008 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships|2008 Nagano]]|Team pursuit}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[2011 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships|2011 Inzell]]|[[2011 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships – Women's 5000 metres|5000 m]]}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[2011 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships|2011 Inzell]]|[[2011 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships – Women's team pursuit|Team pursuit]]}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[2012 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships|2012 Heerenveen]]|[[2012 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships – Women's 5000 metres|5000 m]]}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[2013 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships|2013 Sochi]]|[[2013 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships – Women's 3000 metres|3000 m]]}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[2013 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships|2013 Sochi]]|[[2013 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships – Women's 5000 metres|5000 m]]}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[2015 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships|2015 Heerenveen]]|[[2015 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships – Women's 5000 metres|5000 m]]}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[European Speed Skating Championships|European Championships]]}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[1998 European Speed Skating Championships|1998 Helsinki]]|Allround}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[2006 European Speed Skating Championships|2006 Hamar]]|Allround}}
{{Medal|Gold|[[2009 European Speed Skating Championships|2009 Heerenveen]]|Allround}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[1999 European Speed Skating Championships|1999 Heerenveen]]|Allround}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[2001 European Speed Skating Championships|2001 Baselga di Piné]]|Allround}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[2002 European Speed Skating Championships|2002 Erfurt]]|Allround}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[2003 European Speed Skating Championships|2003 Heerenveen]]|Allround}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[2004 European Speed Skating Championships|2004 Heerenveen]]|Allround}}
{{Medal|Silver|[[2012 European Speed Skating Championships|2012 Budapest]]|Allround}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[1996 European Speed Skating Championships|1996 Heerenveen]]|Allround}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[2005 European Speed Skating Championships|2005 Heerenveen]]|Allround}}
}}

'''Claudia Pechstein''' (born 22 February 1972) is a retired<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-10 |title=German top speed skater Pechstein ends her career |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/article/german-top-speed-skater-pechstein-112113960.html |access-date=2025-03-11 |website=Yahoo Sports |language=en-US}}</ref> German [[Speed skating|speed skater]]. She has won five Olympic gold medals.<ref>{{cite sports-reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/pe/claudia-pechstein-1.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161203191122/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/pe/claudia-pechstein-1.html |archivedate=2016-12-03}}</ref> With a total of nine Olympic medals, five gold, two silver, and two bronze, she was previously the most successful Olympic speed skater, male or female, of all time, (later superseded by [[Ireen Wüst]] during the [[2018 Winter Olympics]] in PyeongChang). Pechstein is the most successful German Winter Olympian of all time. After the World Championships in Norway in February 2009, Pechstein was accused of blood doping and banned from all competitions for two years.

==Biography==
Pechstein was born in [[East Berlin]]. She held a [[List of speed skating records|world record]] on the 5000 m track with the time 6:46.91 achieved on the [[Utah Olympic Oval]] in [[Salt Lake City]] on 23 February 2002, which was beaten by [[Martina Sáblíková]] on the same oval five years later. Pechstein is a [[sergeant]] in the [[German Federal Police]] and trains at the force's sports training centre at [[Bad Endorf]].

Pechstein is the first female Winter Olympian to win medals in five consecutive Olympics (1992–2006); she won the gold medal in the women's 5000 metres race in three consecutive Olympics (1994, 1998, 2002), with bronze in the first (1992) and the silver medal in the fifth (2006). In the 3000 metres, she won three medals, gold (2002), silver (1998), and bronze (1994). She won her fifth Olympic gold medal in the team pursuit at the [[2006 Winter Olympics]] in [[Turin]]. After missing the [[2010 Winter Olympics|2010 Vancouver Games]], she made her sixth Olympic appearance at the [[2014 Winter Olympics|2014 Sochi Games]], finishing fourth in the 3000 metres and fifth in the 5000 metres. In 2018 she appeared in the [[2018 Winter Olympics|Pyeongchang Games]].

As reported by Olympic news outlet [[Around the Rings]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Pechstein Considers Cycling|url=http://aroundtherings.com/site/A__37324/Title__Pechstein-Considers-Cycling-Incheon-2014-Oceania-Qualifying-Shakeup/292/Articles|publisher=[[Around the Rings]]|access-date=20 February 2017|date=29 June 2011}}</ref> Pechstein is aiming for an Olympic return, this time as a cyclist. "I will start in the individual pursuit at the German Track Championships from 6 to 10 July in Berlin", she said. "I am also planning to race the individual sprint or the 500-meter time trial. I trust I can do this because as a skater I've trained a lot on the bike. I have nothing to lose. I don't know how this kind of competition works, so this alone is really exciting".

In [[2022 Winter Olympics|2022]], she returned to the Olympic Games and was the German flag-bearer for the opening ceremony in [[Beijing]]. It was her eighth participation in the Olympic Winter Games and a new record for most Winter Olympics for a female athlete.<ref>{{cite web|title=Eisschnellläuferin Claudia Pechstein schreibt Geschichte|url=https://www.rbb24.de/sport/beitrag/2021/12/eisschnelllauf-claudia-pechstein-calgary-olympia-qualifikation.html|access-date=4 February 2022|archive-date=22 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211222105026/https://www.rbb24.de/sport/beitrag/2021/12/eisschnelllauf-claudia-pechstein-calgary-olympia-qualifikation.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Two-year ban for blood doping==
[[File:Claudia Pechstein (08-12-2007).jpg|thumb|left|Claudia Pechstein (2007)]]

{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+ class="nowrap" | Chronology of the dispute involving Claudia Pechstein and the [[International Skating Union|International Skating Union (ISU)]]:<ref>{{cite web |title=Media release. The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) rejects the request of Claudia Pechstein to refer her case to the Grand Chamber of the ECHR. The matter PECHSTEIN/MUTU/CAS/SWITZERLAND is now over, and the ECHR judgment of 2 October 2018 becomes final and binding. |url=https://www.isu.org/claudia-pechstein-case/19953-cas-press-release-claudia-pechstein-case/file |publisher=Court of Arbitration for Sport |access-date=24 February 2020 |format=pdf |date=5 February 2019}}</ref>
|-

|-
! scope="row" | 2009
| ISU found the athlete guilty of violation of anti-doping provisions and imposed a two-year suspension<br/>the [[Court of Arbitration for Sport|Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS)]] confirmed the sanction 
|-
! scope="row" |2010 
| the [[Swiss Federal Supreme Court]] dismissed the appeal against the CAS award <br/>the Swiss Federal Supreme Court rejected the request for judicial review filed by the athlete
|-
! scope="row" |2014 
| the Munich Regional Court affirmed its jurisdiction and partially upheld the claim against the ISU
|-
! scope="row" |2015
|the Higher Regional Court of Munich partially confirmed the decision of the Munich Regional Court
|-
! scope="row" |2016
| the [[Federal Court of Justice|Federal Court of Justice of Germany]] upheld the appeal filed by the ISU and recognized the jurisdiction of CAS<br/> Claudia Pechstein lodged an [[Verfassungsbeschwerde|application for review]] at the [[Federal Constitutional Court|German Constitutional Court]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Noch kein Termin für Pechstein beim Bundesverfassungsgericht |url=https://www.bz-berlin.de/berlin-sport/noch-kein-termin-fuer-pechstein-beim-bundesverfassungsgericht |website=www.bz-berlin.de |publisher=B.Z./DPA |access-date=24 February 2020 |language=de |date=27 August 2018}}</ref> 
|-
! scope="row" |2018
| the [[European Court of Human Rights|ECHR]] rejected the application lodged by the athlete<ref>{{cite web |author1=European Court of Human Rights |title=CASE OF MUTU AND PECHSTEIN v. SWITZERLAND (Applications nos. 40575/10 and 67474/10). JUDGMENT |url=http://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng?i=001-186828 |publisher=Council of Europe |access-date=24 February 2020 |date=2 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The procedures followed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport complied with the right to a fair hearing, apart from the refusal to hold a public hearing. |url=https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/app/conversion/pdf?library=ECHR&id=003-6207200-8059022&filename=Judgment%20Mutu%20and%20Pechstein%20v.%20Switzerland%20-%20procedures%20before%20the%20Court%20of%20Arbitration%20for%20Sport.pdf |publisher=Registry of the European Court of Human Rights |access-date=24 February 2020 |date=2 October 2018}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row" |2019
| the ECHR rejected the request for referral to the Grand Chamber of the ECHR submitted by the athlete.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Registrar of the European Court of Human Rights |title=Grand Chamber Panel's decisions |url=https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng#{%22display%22:[2],%22itemid%22:[%22003-6321717-8260093%22]} |website=hudoc.echr.coe.int |publisher=HUDOC - European Court of Human Rights |access-date=24 February 2020 |date=5 February 2019}}</ref>
|-
|}

After the [[2009 World Allround Speed Skating Championships|World Championships in Norway]] in February 2009, the [[International Skating Union]] accused Pechstein of [[blood doping]] and banned her from all competitions for two years. This ban was based on irregular levels of [[reticulocyte]]s in her blood. These levels were highest during the [[2006–07 Speed Skating World Cup|Calgary World Cup 2007]] and the Hamar World Championships in 2009; elevated levels were also found during a number of other competitions and training spot checks.<ref name=sz />

In "Autonomy and Biopower in the Anti-Doping Establishment: A Rogue Agent of Governmentality," sport historian Daniel Rosenke reviews Pechstein's case, citing it as an example of the contentious nature of the [[biological passport]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rosenke |first1=Daniel |title=Autonomy and Biopower in the Anti-Doping Establishment: A Rogue Agent of Governmentality |url=https://digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll10/id/16862/ |website=LA84 |publisher=LA84 Foundation |access-date=15 April 2020}}</ref> After collecting sample data on the skater for a period of nearly nine years, the ISU banned Pechstein from competition for an above threshold fluctuation in [[reticulocyte]] percentage, a blood parameter used in passport profiling. Notably, Pechstein argued her ‘%Retics’ of 3.49 fell into the normal range for women her age and asserted that the [[International Skating Union]]’s (ISU) threshold limit of 2.4 was far too low, basing this claim on a confluence of data in medical science. Two weeks following the 3.49 reading, Pechstein was tested again at 1.37, a difference considered by the ISU to be an unequivocal sign of doping.<ref>{{cite book |last1=McArdle |first1=David |title=Longitudinal profiling, sports arbitration and the woman who had nothing to lose |date=2011 |publisher=Taylor and Francis |location=London |isbn=978-0-415-61923-3 |url=https://dspace.stir.ac.uk/handle/1893/3356#.Xpd3Q8hKjIU |access-date=15 April 2020}}</ref> To defend herself, Pechstein cast doubt upon the accuracy of the ‘%Retics’ measurement, citing both her [[hemoglobin]] and [[hematocrit]] levels as [[exculpatory evidence]]. In short, she questioned the [[Reliability (statistics)|reliability]] and accuracy of the entire procedure's longitudinal sample collection, which ultimately led to her violation of the ISU's anti-doping code. Finally, Pechstein interrogated the burden of proof to be met by the ISU in proving a doping violation. She suggested as the CAS pointed out, that "the ISU must convince the panel (of [[arbitrators]]) to a level very close to ‘beyond reasonable doubt’ that all alternative causes for the increase of [[Reticulocyte production index|%Retics]] can be excluded, and that additionally, the [a]thlete had an intention to use blood doping."<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Charlish |first1=Peter |title=The biological passport: closing the net on anti-doping |journal=Marquette Sports Law Review |date=2011 |volume=22 |issue=1 |page=66 |url=https://scholarship.law.marquette.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=&httpsredir=1&article=1543&context=sportslaw |access-date=15 April 2020}}</ref> An important consideration here is that the burden of proof should be proportional the severity of the accusation (according to the World Anti-Doping Code), and in legal terms, should fall closer to beyond a reasonable doubt than the ‘comfortable satisfaction’ of the panel. With the information presented, it seems Pechstein's assertion was valid and cast serious doubt on the so-called ‘clear-cut’ positive described by the ISU.

Pechstein denied that she had doped and appealed to the [[Court of Arbitration for Sport]] (CAS) in [[Lausanne]], claiming, among other things, that she has an inherited condition explaining the abnormal measurements. The court affirmed the ban in November 2009, finding no evidence for an inherited condition in the expert testimony provided by Pechstein.<ref>[http://www.tas-cas.org/d2wfiles/document/3802/5048/0/FINAL%2520AWARD%2520PECHSTEIN.pdf CAS Arbitral Award] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611192252/http://www.tas-cas.org/d2wfiles/document/3802/5048/0/FINAL%20AWARD%20PECHSTEIN.pdf |date=11 June 2011 }}, 25 November 2009.</ref> This was the first case of doping based on circumstantial evidence alone; no forbidden substances were ever found during her repeated tests.<ref name=sz>{{citation|url=http://www.sueddeutsche.de/sport/233/495558/text/|title=Sportgericht urteilt gegen Pechstein|date=25 November 2009|work=sueddeutsche.de|language=de|access-date=26 November 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091128105154/http://www.sueddeutsche.de/sport/233/495558/text/|archive-date=28 November 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{citation|url=http://www.spiegel.de/sport/wintersport/0,1518,634241,00.html|work=Spiegel Online|title=Olympiasiegerin Pechstein wegen Blutdopings gesperrt|date=3 July 2009|language=de}}</ref>

In December 2009, she asked the [[Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland]] for an injunction. She was allowed to participate at a single 3000 m race in Salt Lake City so that she could qualify for the [[2010 Winter Olympics]] in Vancouver should her appeal of the ban be successful. She finished 13th in the race on 11 December but would have needed a place among the top 8 to qualify for the Olympics.<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/298960,pechstein-fails-olympia-mark-vows-to-fight-on--summary.html|title=Pechstein fails Olympia mark, vows to fight on|date=15 February 2010|newspaper=Earth Times}}</ref>

In January 2010, the Swiss Federal Supreme Court refused to temporarily suspend Pechstein's ban for the Olympics.<ref>{{citation|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/2010-01-26-1078434314_x.htm|title=Pechstein loses last appeal, will miss Olympics|date=26 January 2010|newspaper=USA Today}}</ref> On 19 February 2010 the CAS ''ad hoc'' panel at the Vancouver Olympics rejected Pechstein's last-minute appeal to be admitted to the ice skating team events.<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.spiegel.de/sport/wintersport/0,1518,678903,00.html|title=Sportgericht lehnt Pechstein-Antrag ab|date=19 February 2010|newspaper=Spiegel Online|language=de}}</ref>

[[File:2015 World Single Distance Speed Skating Championships, Women's 5000m (11).jpg|thumb|left|Pechstein in 2015]]
In February 2010, Pechstein filed a criminal complaint in Switzerland against the International Skating Union, alleging trial fraud.<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.spiegel.de/sport/wintersport/0,1518,677949,00.html|title=Pechstein zitiert E-Mail und beantragt Startrecht|date=15 February 2010|newspaper=Spiegel Online|language=de}}</ref>

On 15 March 2010, Gerhard Ehninger, head of the German Society for Hematology and Oncology, said that an evaluation of the case points to a light form of blood anemia called [[spherocytosis]] – apparently inherited from her father.<ref>{{citation|url=http://vancouver2010.sympatico.ca/Home/ContentPosting_2010.htm?newsitemid=2663302&feedname=CP_EN_OGAMES&show=True&number=5&showbyline=False&abc=abc|title=Doctors argue Claudia Pechstein's abnormal blood levels caused by hereditary anomaly|date=15 March 2010|newspaper=The Canadian Press|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706204347/http://vancouver2010.sympatico.ca/Home/ContentPosting_2010.htm?newsitemid=2663302&feedname=CP_EN_OGAMES&show=True&number=5&showbyline=False&abc=abc|archive-date=6 July 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Pechstein attempted to use this new evidence in her appeal before the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland. The International Skating Union issued a press release explaining their opposition to this appeal.<ref>[http://www.sportcentric.com/vsite/vcontent/content/transnews/0,10869,4844-128590-19728-18885-307463-3787-4771-layout160-129898-news-item,00.html ISU Position in the Pechstein Case] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120312043131/http://www.sportcentric.com/vsite/vcontent/content/transnews/0,10869,4844-128590-19728-18885-307463-3787-4771-layout160-129898-news-item,00.html |date=12 March 2012 }}, 18 May 2010.</ref>

Pechstein stood to lose her position with the German Federal Police should blood doping have been proved "beyond reasonable doubt". Disciplinary proceedings against her were halted in August 2010 because no such proof was available.<ref>[http://www.bmi.bund.de/cln_156/SharedDocs/Pressemitteilungen/DE/2010/08/pechstein.html Disziplinarverfahren gegen Polizeihauptmeisterin Claudia Pechstein eingestellt] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306111707/http://www.bmi.bund.de/cln_156/SharedDocs/Pressemitteilungen/DE/2010/08/pechstein.html |date=6 March 2012 }}, Bundesministerium des Inneren, 16 August 2010.{{in lang|de}}</ref> Pechstein applied for unpaid leave in order to be able to continue her training, which was denied. As a result, she suffered a nervous breakdown in September 2010.<ref>[https://www.faz.net/s/Rub9CD731D06F17450CB39BE001000DD173/Doc~E47A65C01A73145BC8D268AF1B94009C7~ATpl~Ecommon~Scontent.html Kritik an de Maizière statt Antritt zum Dienst], ''Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung'', 15 September 2010. {{in lang|de}}</ref>

The Swiss Federal Supreme Court issued its final ruling on 28 September 2010, rejecting Pechstein's appeal and confirming the ban.<ref>[http://www.bger.ch/mm_4a_144_2010_d.pdf Bundesgericht weist Revisionsgesuch der Eisschnellläuferin Claudia Pechstein ab] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302183457/http://www.bger.ch/mm_4a_144_2010_d.pdf |date=2 March 2012 }}, Medienmitteilung des Bundesgerichts, 1 October 2010. {{in lang|de}}</ref> Pechstein returned to competition in February 2011.
She next won the bronze medal in the 2011 World Championships in the 5000 m race, finishing behind world champion [[Martina Sáblíková]] from the Czech Republic and her teammate [[Stephanie Beckert]].

After this, Pechstein charged the International Skating Union for damages before German courts. While on 7 June 2016, the lower [[Federal Court of Justice of Germany]] rejected her initial appeal,<ref>{{Cite web |last=FEDERAL COURT OF JUSTICE |title=Pechstein___ISU_translation_ENG_final |url=https://www.tas-cas.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Pechstein___ISU_translation_ENG_final.pdf }}</ref> on 3 June 2022, the higher [[Federal Constitutional Court of Germany]] ruled that Pechstein's fundamental rights had been violated. Based on that decision, the case for damages was sent back to the lower courts for re-trial and is currently still pending.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bundesverfassungsgericht.de/SharedDocs/Entscheidungen/DE/2022/06/rk20220603_1bvr210316.html | title=Bundesverfassungsgericht - Entscheidungen - Erfolgreiche Verfassungsbeschwerde wegen mangelhafter Abwägung bei Prüfung der Zulässigkeit einer Schiedsklausel | date=3 June 2022 }}</ref>

==Skating records==

===Personal records===
{{PersonalRecordsTop|ref=<ref>{{cite web|title=Claudia Pechstein|url=http://speedskatingresults.com/index.php?p=17&s=201|publisher=SpeedskatingResults.com|access-date=12 September 2012}}</ref>}}
{{PersonalRecordsSport|Women's [[speed skating]]}}
{{PersonalRecordsMiddle|500&nbsp;m|38.99|18 March 2006|[[Olympic Oval]], Calgary|}}
{{PersonalRecordsMiddle|1000&nbsp;m|1:16.00|24 February 2007|Olympic Oval, Calgary|}}
{{PersonalRecordsMiddle|1500&nbsp;m|1:54.31|17 November 2007|Olympic Oval, Calgary|}}
{{PersonalRecordsMiddle|3000&nbsp;m|3:57.35|18 March 2006|Olympic Oval, Calgary|}}
{{PersonalRecordsMiddle|5000&nbsp;m|6:46.91|23 February 2002|[[Utah Olympic Oval]], Salt Lake City|[[World record progression 5000 m speed skating women|World record]] until beaten by [[Martina Sáblíková]] on 11 March 2007.<ref name=wr5000 /> Olympic record until beaten by [[Irene Schouten]] on 10 February 2022.<ref name=or>{{cite web|title=Olympic Records|url=http://speedskatingresults.com/index.php?p=10|publisher=SpeedskatingResults.com|access-date=19 August 2014}}</ref> Still current German record.<ref name=nr>{{cite web
 |url        = http://www.speedskatingresults.com/index.php?p=11
 |title      = National Records – Germany (GER)
 |publisher  = www.speedskatingresults.com yes
 |access-date = 4 March 2016
}}</ref>}}
{{PersonalRecordsBottom}}

She is currently in 14th position in the [[Adelskalender (skating)|adelskalender]].<ref name=adelskalender>{{cite web|title=Adelskalendern |url=http://evertstenlund.se/adeld.htm|publisher=evertstenlund.se|access-date=3 November 2018}}</ref>

===World records===
{{PersonalRecordsTop|type=World|ref=<ref name=stats>{{cite web|title=Claudia Pechstein
| url = http://www.speedskatingstats.com/index.php?file=skater&code=1972022201&item=wr
| publisher = SpeedSkatingStats.com
| access-date = 4 March 2016}}</ref>}}
{{PersonalRecordsSport|Women's [[speed skating]]}}
{{PersonalRecordsMiddle|3000&nbsp;m|4:07.13|13 December 1997|[[Vikingskipet]], Hamar|[[World record progression 3000 m speed skating women|World record]] until beaten by [[Gunda Niemann-Stirnemann]] on 14 March 1998.<ref name=wr3000>{{cite web
 |url        = http://www.speedskatingstats.com/index.php?file=records&g=w&event=3000
 |title      = Evolution of the world record 3000 meters Women
 |publisher  = www.speedskatingstats.com
 |access-date = 4 March 2016
}}</ref>}}
{{PersonalRecordsMiddle|5000&nbsp;m|6:59.61|20 February 1998|[[M-Wave]], Nagano|[[World record progression 5000 m speed skating women|World record]] until beaten by Gunda Niemann-Stirnemann on 28 March 1998.<ref name=wr5000>{{cite web
 |url        = http://www.speedskatingstats.com/index.php?file=records&g=w&event=5000
 |title      = Evolution of the world record 5000 meters Women
 |publisher  = www.speedskatingstats.com
 |access-date = 4 March 2016
}}</ref>}}
{{PersonalRecordsMiddle|3000&nbsp;m|3:59.26|2 March 2001|[[Olympic Oval]], Calgary|World record until beaten by herself on 10 February 2002.<ref name=wr3000 />}}
{{PersonalRecordsMiddle|3000&nbsp;m|3:57.70|10 February 2002|[[Utah Olympic Oval]], Salt Lake City|World record until beaten by [[Cindy Klassen]] on 12 November 2005.<ref name=wr3000 /> Olympic record until beaten by [[Irene Schouten]] on 5 February 2022.<ref name=or />}}
{{PersonalRecordsMiddle|5000&nbsp;m|6:46.91|23 February 2002|Utah Olympic Oval, Salt Lake City|World record until beaten by [[Martina Sáblíková]] on 11 March 2007.<ref name=wr5000 /> Olympic record until beaten by Irene Schouten on 10 February 2022.<ref name=or /> Still current German record.<ref name=nr />}}
{{PersonalRecordsMiddle|Team pursuit|2:56.04|12 November 2005|Olympic Oval, Calgary|[[World record progression team pursuit speed skating women|World record]] (with [[Daniela Anschütz-Thoms|Daniela Anschütz]] and [[Anni Friesinger-Postma|Anni Friesinger]]) until beaten by [[Kristina Groves]], [[Christine Nesbitt]] and [[Brittany Schussler]] on 6 December 2009.<ref>{{cite web
 |url        = http://www.speedskatingstats.com/index.php?file=records&g=w&event=team
 |title      = Evolution of the world record Team pursuit Women
 |publisher  = www.speedskatingstats.com
 |access-date = 4 March 2016
}}</ref>}}
{{PersonalRecordsBottom}}

===Olympic records===
{{PersonalRecordsTop|type=Olympic}}
{{PersonalRecordsSport|Women's [[speed skating]]}}
{{PersonalRecordsMiddle|3000&nbsp;m|3:57.70|10 February 2002|[[Utah Olympic Oval]], Salt Lake City|Olympic record until beaten by [[Irene Schouten]] on 5 February 2022.<ref name=or />}}
{{PersonalRecordsMiddle|5000&nbsp;m|6:46.91|23 February 2002|Utah Olympic Oval, Salt Lake City|Olympic record until beaten by Irene Schouten on 10 February 2022.<ref name=or /> Still current German record.<ref name=nr />}}
{{PersonalRecordsBottom}}

==Results==
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
! Season
! German <br /> Championships <br /> Single <br /> Distances
! German <br /> Championships <br /> Allround
! [[European Speed Skating Championships for Women|European <br /> Championships <br /> Allround]]
! [[European Speed Skating Championships for Women|European <br /> Championships <br /> Single <br /> Distances]]
! [[World Allround Speed Skating Championships for Women|World <br /> Championships <br /> Allround]]
! [[World Single Distances Speed Skating Championships|World <br /> Championships <br /> Single <br /> Distances]]
! [[File:Olympic rings.svg|50px|Olympic Games]] <br /> [[Speed skating at the Winter Olympics|Olympic <br /> Games]]
! [[ISU Speed Skating World Cup|World <br /> Cup <br /> GWC]]
! [[World Junior Speed Skating Championships|World <br /> Championships <br /> Junior <br /> Allround]]
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
| <br /> 1987–88 ||<br /> 18th 500m <br/> 8th 1000m<br/> 15th 1500m || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || {{center|[[Taereung International Skating Rink|SEOUL]]}} <hr /> {{bronze3}} 500m <br /> {{bronze3}} 1500m <br /> 5th 1000m <br /> 5th 3000m <hr /> {{silver2}} [[:nl:Wereldkampioenschappen schaatsen junioren 1988|overall]] 
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
| <br /> 1988–89 || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || {{center|KYIV}} <hr /> {{bronze3}} 500m <br /> {{silver2}} 1500m <br /> 10th 1000m <br /> {{silver2}} 3000m <hr /> 4th [[1989 World Junior Speed Skating Championships|overall]] 
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
| <br /> 1989–90 || <br/> 17th 500m <br/> 6th 5000m || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || {{center|[[Meiji Hokkaido-Tokachi Oval|OBIHIRO]]}} <hr /> 7th 500m <br /> 9th 1500m <br /> 7th 1000m <br /> {{silver2}} 3000m <hr /> 4th [[:nl:Wereldkampioenschappen schaatsen junioren 1990|overall]]
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
| <br /> 1990–91 || <br/> 11th 500m <br/> {{silver2}} 3000m <br/> {{silver2}} 5000m || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || bgcolor=#EEEEEE |	
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
| <br /> 1991–92 || <br/> 14th 500m <br/> 9th 1500m <br/> 4th 3000m <br/> {{silver2}} 5000m || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || {{center|HEERENVEEN}} <hr /> 16th 500m <br /> 20th 3000m <br /> 7th 1500m <br /> 16th 5000m <hr /> 14th [[:nl:Europese kampioenschappen schaatsen 1992|overall]] || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || {{center|HEERENVEEN}} <hr /> 21st 500m <br /> 6th 3000m <br /> 11th 1500m <br /> 6th 5000m <hr /> 6th [[1992 World Allround Speed Skating Championships for women|overall]] || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || {{center|ALBERTVILLE}} <hr /> {{bronze3}} [[Speed skating at the 1992 Winter Olympics – Women's 5000 metres|5000m]] || <br/> 21st 1500m <br/> 8th 3000/5000m || bgcolor=#EEEEEE |	
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
| <br /> 1992–93 || bgcolor=#EEEEEE| || <br/> 5th 500m <br /> {{silver2}} 3000m <br /> {{bronze3}} 1500m <br /> {{bronze3}} 5000m <hr /> {{silver2}} overall || {{center|HEERENVEEN}} <hr /> 12th 500m <br /> 16th 3000m <br /> 12th 1500m <br /> DNS 5000m <hr /> NC19 [[:nl:Europese kampioenschappen schaatsen 1993|overall]] || bgcolor=#EEEEEE| || {{center|BERLIN}} <hr /> 19th 500m <br /> 8th 3000m <br /> 17th 1500m <br /> 8th 5000m <hr /> 9th [[1993 World Allround Speed Skating Championships for women|overall]] || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | ||  <br/> 10th 1500m <br/> 7th 3000/5000m || bgcolor=#EEEEEE |
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
| <br /> 1993–94 || bgcolor=#EEEEEE| || bgcolor=#EEEEEE| || bgcolor=#EEEEEE| || bgcolor=#EEEEEE| || bgcolor=#EEEEEE| || bgcolor=#EEEEEE| || {{center|HAMAR}} <hr /> {{bronze3}} [[Speed skating at the 1994 Winter Olympics – Women's 5000 metres|5000m]] <br/> {{gold1}} [[Speed skating at the 1994 Winter Olympics – Women's 5000 metres|5000m]] || <br/> 17th 3000/5000m || bgcolor=#EEEEEE |
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
| <br /> 1994–95 || <br/> {{bronze3}} 1500m || <br/> 6th 500m <br /> {{silver2}} 3000m <br /> {{silver2}} 1500m <br /> {{bronze3}} 5000m <hr /> {{silver2}} overall || {{center|HEERENVEEN}} <hr /> 9th 500m <br /> 6th 3000m <br /> 6th 1500m <br /> 4th 5000m <hr /> 4th [[:nl:Europese kampioenschappen schaatsen 1995|overall]] || bgcolor=#EEEEEE| || {{center|SAVALEN}} <hr /> 14th 500m <br /> 9th 3000m <br /> 9th 1500m <br /> 7th 5000m <hr /> 7th [[1995 Women's World Allround Speed Skating Championships|overall]] || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || 8th 1500m <br/> 11th 3000/5000m || bgcolor=#EEEEEE |
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
| <br /> 1995–96 || <br /> NC2 500m <br/> {{silver2}} 1500m  <br/> {{silver2}} 3000m || <br/> {{gold1}} 500m <br /> {{gold1}} 3000m <br />{{gold1}} 1500m <br /> {{gold1}} 5000m <hr /> {{gold1}} overall || {{center|HEERENVEEN}} <hr /> 4th 500m <br /> 4th 3000m <br /> {{silver2}} 1500m <br /> {{silver2}} 5000m <hr /> {{bronze3}} [[:nl:Europese kampioenschappen schaatsen 1996|overall]] || bgcolor=#EEEEEE| || {{center|INZELL}} <hr /> 8th 500m <br /> 7th 3000m <br /> {{silver2}} 1500m <br /> {{gold1}} 5000m <hr /> {{silver2}} [[1996 World Allround Speed Skating Championships|overall]] || {{center|HAMAR}} <hr /> {{silver2}} 1500m <br/> {{silver2}} 3000m <br/> {{gold1}} 5000m ||  bgcolor=#EEEEEE | || 4th 1500m <br/> {{silver2}} 3000/5000m || bgcolor=#EEEEEE |
|}

{| border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="1" style="empty-cells:show; width:500px; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:0,5em; background:#f8f8ff;"
! align="center" bgcolor="d2d2ff" | World Cup overall
! align="center" bgcolor="d2d2ff" | World Cup medals
! align="center" bgcolor="d2d2ff" | Overall medals
|- ---- bgcolor="#f8f8ff" valign="top"
|
* 1500 meters
** 2003: 2nd
** 2002: 2nd
** 2001: 3rd
** 2000: 2nd
** 1999: 2nd
** 1998: 2nd
* 3000/5000 meters
** 2012: 3rd
** 2008: 2nd
** 2007: 3rd
** 2006: 2nd
** 2005: 1st
** 2004: 1st
** 2003: 1st
** 2002: 2nd
** 2001: 2nd
** 2000: 2nd
** 1999: 2nd
** 1998: 2nd
** 1996: 2nd
* Mass start
** 2012: 2nd
|
* 1500 meters
** 1st: -->6
** 2nd: ->13
** 3rd: -->9
* 3000 meters
** 1st: ->14
** 2nd: ->25
** 3rd: -->7
* 5000 meters
** 1st: -->6
** 2nd: -->10
** 3rd: -->4
* Mass start
** 1st: -->2
** 2nd: -->2
** 3rd: -->1
* Combination
** 1st: -->0
** 2nd: -->1
** 3rd: -->0
* Team pursuit
** 1st: -->4
** 2nd: -->2
** 3rd: -->3
* Total medals
** 1st: ->32
** 2nd: ->53
** 3rd: ->24
::'''All: ->109'''
|
* Olympics
** 1st: -->5
** 2nd: -->2
** 3rd: -->2
* World Champion Single
** 1st: -->5
** 2nd: ->12
** 3rd: -->12
* World Champion Overall
** 1st: -->1
** 2nd: -->8
** 3rd: -->2
* World Cup
** 1st: ->32
** 2nd: ->53
** 3rd: ->24
::'''All: ->158'''
* updated 15 Feb 2015
|}
<small>Source: SpeedSkatingStats.com<ref name=stats /></small>

==See also==
*[[List of multiple Olympic gold medalists]]
*[[List of multiple Winter Olympic medalists]]
*[[List of multiple Olympic medalists in one event]]
*[[List of people from Berlin]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
* {{ISU speed skater |new_id= claudia-pechstein |old_id= 97209 }}
* [http://www.speedskatingstats.com/index.php?file=skater&code=1972022201 Claudia Pechstein] at SpeedSkatingStats.com
* {{Olympics.com}}
* {{Olympedia}}
* {{InterSportStats|52464}}
* {{DOSB profile}}
* {{Official website}} {{in lang|de}}
* {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060427012401/http://www.fotos.desg.de/athletes.php?showAthletes=all&id=212 |date=27 April 2006 |title=Photos of Claudia Pechstein}} {{in lang|de}}

{{s-start}}
{{S-ach|rec}}
{{succession box
| title = [[World record progression 3000 m speed skating women|Women's 3000 m speed skating world record]]
| before = {{flagicon|GER}} [[Gunda Niemann-Stirnemann]]<br />{{flagicon|GER}} [[Gunda Niemann-Stirnemann]]
| after = {{flagicon|GER}} [[Gunda Niemann-Stirnemann]]<br />{{flagicon|CAN}} [[Cindy Klassen]]
| years = 13 December 1997 – 14 March 1998<br />2 March 2001 – 12 November 2005
}}
{{succession box
| title = [[World record progression 5000 m speed skating women|Women's 5000 m speed skating world record]]
| before = {{flagicon|GER}} [[Gunda Niemann-Stirnemann]]<br />{{flagicon|GER}} [[Gunda Niemann-Stirnemann]]
| after = {{flagicon|GER}} [[Gunda Niemann-Stirnemann]]<br />{{flagicon|CZE}} [[Martina Sáblíková]]
| years = 20 February 1998 – 28 March 1998<br />23 February 2002 – 11 March 2007
}}
{{succession box
| title = [[World record progression team pursuit speed skating women|Women's team pursuit speed skating world record]]
| before = {{flagicon|CAN}} [[Kristina Groves]], [[Clara Hughes]], [[Cindy Klassen]]
| after = {{flagicon|CAN}} [[Kristina Groves]], [[Christine Nesbitt]], [[Brittany Schussler]]
| years = 12 November 2005 – 6 December 2009<br />with [[Daniela Anschütz-Thoms|Daniela Anschütz]] and [[Anni Friesinger-Postma|Anni Friesinger]]
}}
{{s-end}}

{{Footer Olympic Champions 3000m Speed Skating}}
{{Footer Olympic Champions 5000m Speed Skating Women}}
{{Footer Olympic Champions Team Pursuit Women}}
{{Footer World Single Distance Champions 1500m Speed Skating Women}}
{{Footer World Single Distance Champions 3000m Speed Skating Women}}
{{Footer World Single Distance Champions 5000m Speed Skating Women}}
{{Footer World Allround Champions Speed Skating Women}}
{{Adelskalender leaders women}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pechstein, Claudia}}
[[Category:1972 births]]
[[Category:German female speed skaters]]
[[Category:German sportspeople in doping cases]]
[[Category:Doping cases in speed skating]]
[[Category:German police officers]]
[[Category:Women police officers]]
[[Category:21st-century police officers]]
[[Category:Speed skaters at the 1992 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Speed skaters at the 1994 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Speed skaters at the 1998 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Speed skaters at the 2002 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Speed skaters at the 2006 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Speed skaters at the 2014 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Speed skaters at the 2018 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Speed skaters at the 2022 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic speed skaters for Germany]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1992 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1994 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1998 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2002 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2006 Winter Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic medalists in speed skating]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for Germany]]
[[Category:Olympic silver medalists for Germany]]
[[Category:Olympic bronze medalists for Germany]]
[[Category:Speed skaters from Berlin]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:World Allround Speed Skating Championships medalists]]
[[Category:World Single Distances Speed Skating Championships medalists]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of Merit of Berlin]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from East Berlin]]
[[Category:SC Dynamo Berlin sportspeople]]
[[Category:20th-century German sportswomen]]
[[Category:21st-century German sportswomen]]