Neues Deutschland. January 14, 1963. In a thousand-voiced chorus, a cry rings out across the exhibition hall in Leipzig: "Stick it!" - and the slender gymnast, clad in a form-fitting violet leotard, does exactly that: following a taut handspring over the side horse, she lands in a perfectly straight, fully extended position, appearing as if nailed to the mat. Jubilation roars through the hall as the judges confirm with a score of 9.75 points. That was a championship vault! It remains the highest score among all competitors in the vaulting discipline of the optional-exercise all-around - part of the third European Cup for female gymnasts. With these 9.75 points, Ute Starke takes the lead among Europe's finest gymnasts. Victory is within her grasp! And twenty-four hours later - on June 4, 1961 - the spectators' rallying cry once again seems to exert a magical power: in the finals, Ute executes her second vault flawlessly. Everyone waits in tense anticipation for the scores - then, thunderous applause shakes the hall: 9.6 points. The dream of the 22-year-old champion gymnast from SC Lokomotiv has come true; she once again executed her handspring to perfection - she has won the gold medal in the vaulting discipline of the "Coupe d'Europe." The first gold medal in gymnastics for the GDR.
Sports enthusiasts and gymnastics experts alike knew how to truly appreciate this victory - and the success achieved in the [international] CSSR championships that same year; at year's end, during the vote for the most popular female athlete of 1961, they cast the majority of their ballots for the unassuming telecommunications worker who, left to her own devices, would have preferred to steer clear of all honors. And for the 1962 World Championships in Prague, they placed their trust in this native of Eisleben who had made Leipzig her adopted home. But the dream of the World Championships was shattered. Although Ute continued to solidify both her confidence and her performance capabilities, that fateful day eventually arrived. During the championship finals - specifically during her final routine, the floor exercise - her left Achilles tendon snapped as she executed a powerful takeoff for a handspring; upon landing on the mat, Ute suffered yet another injury: torn ligaments in her right foot. Horrified, her teammates rushed to her side and carried the injured athlete out of the arena. Ute's hopes for the World Championships had to be laid to rest.
She could only witness the championship competitions in Prague from afar. But now, those vote counts from the end of the year were confirmed: countless letters and cards piled up at her bedside, and the heartfelt wishes for a speedy recovery helped Ute never to feel abandoned - not even for a moment - and to endure the months-long enforced hiatus with greater ease.
The two tears healed completely. Around the turn of the year, Ute ventured her first cautious test steps in the training hall - for she is not one to give in. A competitor in some thirty international dual meets and numerous international championships, she has never once given up. Not even as a twelve-year-old, when the BSG Lok Leipzig Ost club initially refused to admit her to its gymnastics section because they simply no longer knew how to accommodate the multitude of children - all hungry for physical activity - inside the hall. She was sent away, but she returned again and again with dogged persistence, lurking in the spectator gallery until she spotted that a spot had opened up for her. Then she would present herself before the instructor - who, in the end, found herself unable to resist those pleading brown eyes. It was at that time that Ute's bond with Ellen Berger was forged - a coach who would train her for a decade and ultimately guide her to victory in the European Cup.
"One must not be impatient. It will still take a few months before I can train properly again." Ute's cautious reply to our expectant questions is accompanied by a confident smile. "I do believe that I will succeed in being back in action before the year is out. I certainly won't be lacking in diligence. And the invitation to the 6th Party Congress - which, as a non-party member, represents a highly honorable distinction for me - will further strengthen my firm resolve to return to top form. I am traveling to Berlin filled with anticipation. The trip also serves as a lovely birthday present for me, for today - January 14th, our day of departure - I turn exactly 24 years old. As a member of the Presidium of our Gymnastics Federation and of the Central Board of the Railway Workers' Union, the atmosphere of major conferences is not entirely unfamiliar to me. Yet these days in Berlin - which hold such great significance for all citizens of our Republic - will be a unique and truly special experience. My hope is that the immense energy the Party Congress will radiate will also have a positive impact on relations between athletes from both German states, and that the athletes' wish will be fulfilled: to clear away all obstacles hindering mutual sporting exchange - not least those affecting our fourth German Gymnastics and Sports Festival this coming August."
H. GUENTHER