Mandy Wötzel (born 21 July 1973) is a German former pair skater who represented East Germany and later Germany in international competition. With partner Ingo Steuer, she is the 1998 Olympic bronze medalist, the 1997 World champion, the 1995 European champion, and a four-time German national champion.

Personal life Mandy Wötzel was born 21 July 1973 in Karl-Marx-Stadt (Chemnitz), Saxony, East Germany. She married an Australian in 2007 and moved the same year to Australia.

Skating career Early career

Wötzel began skating as a child. She skated for the club SC Karl-Marx-Stadt, which was renamed to SC Chemnitz after German reunification. Her first partner was Axel Rauschenbach. The pair won the silver medal at the 1989 European Championships. Rauschenbach's skate blade struck Wötzel's head in 1989 while they were performing side-by-side camel spins. She was in hospital for three months and missed half a year of school. Wötzel and Rauschenbach competed at the 1992 Winter Olympics, where they finished 8th. Following the season, Rauschenbach ended their partnership to work at a bank.

Partnership with Steuer Ingo Steuer, who had been without a partner during 1991–1992 season, trained at the same rink as Wötzel, and under the same coach, Monika Scheibe. Scheibe initially hesitated to put Wötzel and Steuer together due to doubts about whether their personalities would work well together but she was persuaded after seeing their tryout. After less than a year together, Wötzel/Steuer won the silver medal at the 1993 European Championships and the 1993 World Championships. Both were accepted into the sports division of the German army, supporting athletes.

Wötzel and Steuer had a few accidents during their career. She knocked him out with her elbow while practicing the twist lift and he broke her nose while practicing another lift. During the long program at the 1994 Winter Olympics, Wötzel tripped on a rut and fell to the ice, cutting her chin. Steuer carried her off the ice. The pair was forced to withdraw from the competition and Wötzel had to have stitches. They skated at the 1994 World Championships one month later, and finished fourth. In a humorous touch, after the program, Steuer carried Wötzel off the ice just as he had at the Olympics.

Wötzel/Steuer won the 1995 European Championships and the 1997 World Championships in Lausanne, Switzerland. Steuer underwent his fifth or sixth knee surgery in mid-1997. On 8 December 1997, a passing car's side window hit Steuer's arm, partly tearing ligaments in his right shoulder. Pain radiated to his neck and face and caused headaches but he continued to skate. Wötzel/Steuer won the silver medal at the Champions Series Final, held 19–20 December 1997 in Munich, Germany. When he caught her during a triple twist in the long program, Steuer felt a sharp pain that extended to his head. They stayed off the ice for the following three weeks. Wötzel/Steuer missed the 1998 European Championships as a result but returned in time for the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan, where they won the bronze medal. They then retired from competition and skated in shows and professional events.

In a 2006 interview, Wötzel said that their partnership was "hell" and she felt anxiety at the sight of Steuer.

Later career In autumn 2006, Wötzel participated in the TV show Dancing on Ice on the German channel RTL, partnered with boxer Sven Ottke.

Wötzel works as a skating coach in Australia. She started teaching at the Olympic Ice Rink in Oakleigh, Melbourne in 2008.

Programs

With Steuer Season Short program Free skating Exhibition 1997–1998 No Holly For Miss Quinn Enya Wings of Hope In Memory from Moods of Indigo by Danny Wright 1996–1997 A Question of You by Prince Who Wants to Live Forever performed by Dune

Think by Aretha Franklin 1995–1996 The Rolling Stones medley performed by Munich Philharmonic Orchestra 1994–1995 No Holly For Miss Quinn by Enya Island by Art of Noise 1993–1994 Basic Instinct In Your Room by Depeche Mode 1992–1993 On The Road from Rain Man The NeverEnding Story by Giorgio Moroder Black Machine

Professional career Out Of Africa

Masquerade by Vanessa-Mae

Last Dance by Donna Summer

In Memory by Danny Wright

Revolution by Jean-Michel Jarre

With Rauschenbach Season Short program Free skating 1991–1992 Danse macabre by Camille Saint-Saëns

Results With Ingo Steuer GP: Champions Series (Grand Prix)

International Event 93–94 94–95 95–96 96–97 97–98 Winter Olympics WD 3rd World Champ. 2nd 4th 5th 2nd 1st European Champ. 2nd 5th 1st 2nd 2nd Final 3rd 1st 2nd Cup of Russia 1st Nations Cup 2nd 1st 1st NHK Trophy 2nd Skate Canada 1st Trophée Lalique 2nd Nations Cup 1st 2nd 1st NHK Trophy 3rd Piruetten 1st Skate Canada 1st Trophée de France 3rd National German Champ. 1st 1st 1st 1st WD = Withdrew

With Axel Rauschenbach International Event 87–88(GDR) 88–89(GDR) 89–90(GDR) 90–91(GER) 91–92(GER) Winter Olympics 8th World Championships 8th 7th European Championships 5th 2nd 5th 6th Skate America 3rd Trophée de France 2nd 1st National German Championships 1st 2nd East German Champ. 2nd 1st 1st

References