Olympic Discus Champion Ilke Wyludda Dies at 55

The German athlete, who overcame a leg amputation to compete in the Paralympics, passed away due to illness in Halle, Germany.

Ilke Wyludda won gold in discus at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, capping a career that included multiple European and World Championship medals.
Born in Leipzig in 1969, she represented East Germany until reunification and dominated discus events from 1989 to 1991 with 41 consecutive wins.
Her career was marked by resilience, including a comeback attempt after injuries and later competing in Paralympics following a leg amputation in 2010 due to a bacterial infection.
Wyludda transitioned from sports to medicine, working as an anesthesiologist and helping patients manage pain, drawing from her own experiences with physical challenges.
She passed away on December 1, 2024, at the age of 55, leaving behind a legacy of perseverance and excellence in both athletics and medicine.