Cornelia Pfohl
German archer and two-time Olympic medalist who competed while pregnant.
Cornelia Pfohl (born 23 February 1971) is a German archer who appeared at four straight Summer Olympics, from 1992 through 2004. She earned two Olympic medals in the women’s team competition: a silver in 1996 and a bronze in 2000. She drew notice at both the 2000 and 2004 Games for competing while pregnant—first with her daughter, then with her second child.
Pfohl first competed at the Olympics in Barcelona in 1992, placing 44th in the women’s individual event and helping the German team finish tenth. Four years later, in 1996, she reached the team final. With Germany leading South Korea by one point and nine of the 27 arrows remaining, Pfohl’s arrow landed in the outermost ring for just one point, allowing South Korea to pull ahead and win their third consecutive team gold.
At the 2000 Sydney Games, Pfohl was in the early stages of pregnancy with her daughter Mara. She won a bronze medal in the women’s team event and finished 24th individually. For that bronze, she received the Silver Laurel Leaf from Federal President Johannes Rau.
Pfohl’s qualification for the 2004 Athens Games came as a surprise, prompting her to postpone wedding plans. She competed while 30 weeks pregnant with her second child. After placing 18th in the ranking round, she defeated Canada’s Marie-Pier Beaudet 146–128 in the first elimination round. In the round of 32, she lost 158–156 to Russia’s Margarita Galinovskaya.
Quick Facts
- Nationality
- German
- Birth Date
- 23 February 1971
- Birth Place
- Erlabrunn, Breitenbrunn, Saxony, East Germany
- Height
- 1.75 m
- Weight
- 58 kg
- Sport
- Archery
- Event
- Recurve
- Medal Templates
- Women's Archery · Olympic Games / 1996 Atlanta · Team / 2000 Sydney · Team
- Show Medals
- yes
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Pfohl made her Olympic debut at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, finishing forty-fourth overall in the women's individual event and tenth with the German team. At the 1996 Summer Olympics, she reached the final of the women's team event. With Germany leading South Korea by a single point with nine of the match's twenty-seven arrows left, Pfohl shot into the outermost ring of the target, scoring just one point, allowing South Korea to pull ahead and win their third consecutive team gold medal.
Pfohl competed in the 2000 Summer Olympics while in the early stages of pregnancy with her daughter Mara. She won bronze in the women's team event and finished twenty-fourth in the individual event. She was awarded the Silver Laurel Leaf by Federal President Johannes Rau for winning bronze. Her qualification for the 2004 Olympics was unexpected and caused her to delay plans to get married. She participated while pregnant again, at 30 weeks with her second child. She placed eighteenth in the ranking round, defeated Marie-Pier Beaudet of Canada 146–128 in the first elimination round, then lost to Margarita Galinovskaya of Russia 158–156 in the round of 32.
Reader's Guide
Cornelia Pfohl's Olympic career is notable for spanning four consecutive Games and for her two team medals, a silver in 1996 and a bronze in 2000. Her performance in the 1996 team final, where a single low-scoring arrow shifted the outcome, is a defining moment of her competitive history. Beyond her medals, Pfohl drew significant attention for competing at the 2000 and 2004 Olympics while pregnant—first in early pregnancy with her daughter Mara, and later at 30 weeks with her second child. This unusual circumstance highlighted her dedication and physical resilience. Her unexpected qualification for the 2004 Games also led her to postpone her wedding plans. The Silver Laurel Leaf awarded by the German president for her bronze medal underscores the national recognition of her achievement. Pfohl's career illustrates the intersection of elite athletic performance and personal life decisions, and her story remains a distinctive chapter in Olympic archery.
Did You Know?
- Pfohl shot a one-point arrow in the 1996 team final, allowing South Korea to win gold.
- She competed in the 2000 Olympics while in early pregnancy with her daughter Mara.
- She competed in the 2004 Olympics at 30 weeks pregnant with her second child.
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