Olympian coach Jutta Müller has died age 94

[Matthew]

Jutta Müller, coach of Katarina Witt, Anett Pötzsch and many many other medallists, has died age 94:

Eiskunstlauf-Ikone Jutta Müller ist tot | MDR.DE

Das deutsche Eiskunstlaufen verliert die wohl größte Trainerin aller Zeiten. Jutta Müller ist nach MDR-Informationen im Alter von 94 Jahren gestorben. Die Chemnitzerin formte zahlreiche Weltmeister und Olympiasieger.

www.mdr.de

 

[dorispulaski]

I am sorry to hear that. May she rest in peace, and may her friends and family be comforted by her memory.

She was an outstanding coach.

 

[Rebecca Moose]

RIP. What a life!

 

[ladyjane]

I will give a translation (in summary) of the piece in the OP's post. My German is as we Dutch would say "so-so" so any German speakers on the board please add and correct if you feel like it!

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Figure skating icon dies at 94​

Figure skating lost the greated coach of all time. Jutta Müller died at the age of 94 in a nursing home. The woman from Chemnitz trained in her active time as a coach numerous Olympic and World champions, like her daughter Gaby seyfert, Jan Hoffman, Annett Pötsch and Katarina Witt. The figure skating world has lost a great coach personality according to Andreas wagner, president of the German Skating Union.

An institute of sports in Chemnitz.
Pötzch (now 63), the first German Olympic Figure skating champion, mourned her deeply. The coach had been made honorary citizen of Chemnitz when she celebrated her 80th birthday. The mayor of the city mentioned that.

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Obituary​

Her career as a coach started in 1955 in Karl Marx stadt (nowadays Chemnitz). She was an active figure skater earlier and even became the champion of the DDR in 1949. First she had success as a coach with her daughter Gaby Siefert who was world champion twice. After that followed Annett Pötzsch and Jan Hoffmann. She became immortal in her relationship with Katarina Witt, and not just because of the successes. They had a strong bond, although Katerina would always call her 'sie' (not used much in English, it is thee, a respectful way to say 'you' ).


In 2022 the nursing home
In the summer of 2022 she left her beloved home city to live in a nursing home close to her daughter. The former living space was far too big.

 

[Ic3Rabbit]

Amazing, accomplished coach who contributed much to the sport. May she RIP.

 

[el henry]

One of the greats, my sympathies to her family and loved ones.

I started watching this documentary on Coach Müller, German with English subtitles, and it was fascinating. I did not know about one of her students, Gunther Zoller, who defected to West Germany. I did not know that Coach Müller "poached" Anett Poetsch from her own daughter Gaby Seyfert. Videos of baby Jan Hoffman, baby Anett, of Katarina Witt and her "comeback' in 1994, and how difficult it was for Coach Müller to accept that Katarina was skating for reasons other than gold.

Recommended.

 

[NYscorp6]

A legendary coach. May She Rest in Peace! My condolences to her family & friends.

 

[Matthew]

Reaction from Katarina Witt:

Eiskunstlauf: "Ganz tief in meinem Herz": Kati Witt trauert um Trainerin

Hier finden Sie Informationen zu dem Thema „Eiskunstlauf“. Lesen Sie jetzt „"Ganz tief in meinem Herz": Kati Witt trauert um Trainerin“.

www.zeit.de

 

[LadyB]

She wasn't particularly eandearing to me on a human level, but she was a heck of a coach. She's had very good innings - RIP.

 

[labgoat]

RIP Jutta Mueller - You earned the love and respect of your students for a lifetime and that means something. It was always charming to see you dote on your students in the K & C. 94 years is a lot of life.

 

[SmileHappy34]

My condolences to her family,
Her skaters brought me joy

 

[ladyjane]

And a feature of the ISU on Jutta as well:

Figure Skating coach Jutta Müller dies at age 94 - International Skating Union

It is with deep regret and sorrow that the ISU has learned of the passing of renowned Figure Skating coach Jutta Müller, who passed away at the age of 94 in Bernau, Germany on November 2, 2023.

www.isu.org