Beate Schramm Brings Olympic Gold Legacy to WPFG

Beate Schramm has been with the Pottsdam, Germany Police Department since 1987, with the first two years under the control of GDR (East Germany). She witnessed history as the Berlin Wall came down and the country was reunified. Yet through this turmoil she attained Olympic glory in rowing and would continue winning in several World Police and Fire Games.

She first took up the oars at a sport school in Pottsdam at the age of 14 and later joined the National People's Army where she was allowed to train full time. It paid off, because from 1986 and 1991 she won four senior world championship titles and six national championships. The ultimate goal was reached when she earned gold at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games in the quad sculls event for East Germany. She also just missed the final at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics in the single sculls event. 

Beate entered the World Police and Fire Games in Barcelona in 2003 and won gold in her 2,000-meter indoor rowing event. “Then, I had my daughter and didn’t compete again until Rotterdam in 2022,” she explains. She picked up where she left off, earning two gold in Rotterdam. In 2023 Beate crushed the competition in Winnipeg and swept all four of her indoor rowing events, including winning the 1000-meter 55+ women’s pairs with Edith Miriam Schreur, and the 50+ mixed doubles with Karl Heinz Arent.

Now 57 and still in top shape, the blonde rower says she loves being among other dedicated first responders at WPFG. “These were always great games with great people, regardless of whether they were competitors, helpers or organizers. I look forward to Birmingham in 2025,” she says, adding, “It's great when you can win for your country, but you're also doing it for yourself. You do it because you meet great people and it's a very special atmosphere.”

Beate, who currently works at the State Criminal Police Office tracking down money laundering schemes, is also very aware that she is role model to her colleagues. “I try to be a role model in sports and in everyday life. In the police it is important to be fit and have a healthy drive.”

By Del Moon