 Between 1982 and 1989 she won six gold, two silver and three bronze medals in individual medley and butterfly events at European and world championships.She missed the 1984 Summer Olympics due to their boycott by East Germany and competed at the Friendship Games instead, winning a silver medal in the 400 m individual medley.She started swimming aged six, had her first international competition at age 13, her first medal at world championships at 16, and retired at 25 in 1990, though she briefly resumed competing in 1995–1996 in the United States.