The information on this page was written the year of their induction.

INTERNATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS: World Points-934, Pre-1986 Points-0, Total Points-934. Since 1991, she has competed in five age groups (50-54 thru 70-74); 33 FINA MASTERS WORLD RECORDS

Christel Schulz was born in Rathenow, Germany, about 90 km from Berlin in 1940. She grew up around lakes, where she learned to swim.

Once she began school, coaches began to notice her at a local school swimming competition and asked her to join their club team, BSG (Betriebssportgemeinschaft) Rathenow.

Christel Schulz joined the East German National Team in 1954 when an international youth exchange was held between the DDR and Romania. She continued to excel and competed in 45 international competitions, the pinnacle being the 1960 Olympic Games, where she won a bronze medal in the 100 meter freestyle event.

She was forced to end her career in 1963 when the Berlin wall went up and split up her family; her sisters lived in West Germany and she in East Germany.

When East and West Germany were reunited in 1990, Christel learned of Masters Swimming and was able to once more go back to the sport that she loved so much.

At age 55, she broke the world record in the 50 meter freestyle and then competed in her first World Championships in 1996 in Sheffield, England, where she came home with a silver and a bronze medal. She continued to compete in Masters World Championships during 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010.

All totaled, Christel Schulz has won 23 World Championship titles and has 35 world records (23 long course and 12 short course) in four age groups. She has also competed in six European Championships with 20 titles and has 103 European records.

Christel’s love and passion belongs to swimming, her family and her country, Germany. She says “I swim because I love it and because even at a higher age you can still improve and reach goals you never thought you could!”

Christel Schulz was born in Rathenow, Germany, about 90 km from Berlin in 1940. She grew up around lakes, where she learned to swim.

Once she began school, coaches began to notice her at a local school swimming competition and asked her to join their club team, BSG (Betriebssportgemeinschaft) Rathenow.

Christel Schulz joined the East German National Team in 1954 when an international youth exchange was held between the DDR and Romania. She continued to excel and competed in 45 international competitions, the pinnacle being the 1960 Olympic Games, where she won a bronze medal in the 100 meter freestyle event.

She was forced to end her career in 1963 when the Berlin wall went up and split up her family; her sisters lived in West Germany and she in East Germany.

When East and West Germany were reunited in 1990, Christel learned of Masters Swimming and was able to once more go back to the sport that she loved so much.

At age 55, she broke the world record in the 50 meter freestyle and then competed in her first World Championships in 1996 in Sheffield, England, where she came home with a silver and a bronze medal. She continued to compete in Masters World Championships during 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010.

All totaled, Christel Schulz has won 23 World Championship titles and has 35 world records (23 long course and 12 short course) in four age groups. She has also competed in six European Championships with 20 titles and has 103 European records.

Christel’s love and passion belongs to swimming, her family and her country, Germany. She says “I swim because I love it and because even at a higher age you can still improve and reach goals you never thought you could!”