 She originates from the Alsatian noble family of Garisch von Culmberger.Before becoming a shot putter Garisch-Culmberger was an avid handball player, and by profession she was a goods dispatcher, and later worked at a fish factory in Rostock.In 1966, Garisch-Culmberger married Nils Boy, an East German wrestler, and competed at the 1968 Summer Olympics as Renate Boy.