Gabi Zange

{{short description|German speed skater}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2014}}

{{expand German|topic=bio|date=May 2022|Gabi Zange}}

{{Infobox speed skater

| name = Gabi Zange

| image = Gabi Zange-Schönbrunn 1981.jpg

| caption = Gabi Zange in 1981

| headercolor = #d7ecff

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1961|6|1|df=y}}

| birth_place = Crimmitschau, East Germany

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height = {{height|m=1.67}}

| weight = {{convert|60|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}}

| sport = Speed skating

| club = SC Karl-Marx-Stadt

| alma_mater =

| show-medals = yes

| medaltemplates =

{{Medal|Sport|Women's speed skating}}

{{Medal|Country|{{GDR}}}}

{{Medal|Competition|Olympic Games}}

{{Medal|Bronze|1984 Sarajevo|3000 m}}

{{Medal|Bronze|1988 Calgary|3000 m}}

{{Medal|Bronze|1988 Calgary|5000 m}}

{{Medal|Competition|World Championships}}

{{Medal|Silver|1985 Sarajevo|Allround}}

{{Medal|Bronze|1984 Deventer|Allround}}

{{Medal|Competition|European Championships}}

{{Medal|Gold|1984 Alma-Ata|Allround}}

{{Medal|Bronze|1981 Heerenveen|Allround}}

}}

Gabriele Zange ({{née}} Schönbrunn, born 1 June 1961) is a retired East German speed skater who specialized in the long distances (3000 m and 5000 m), winning three Olympic bronze medals in these events in 1984 and 1988. In 1981 she won a European bronze medal in the 3000 m and later set a world record at the high-altitude rink of Medeo (3000 m, 4:21.70). In 1984, she won European championships, setting two world records, in the 5000 m (7:39.44) and allround, and finished third at the world championships. Next year she won a silver at the world championships, but then had no success until the 1987–88 season, when she set her fourth world record (4:14.76 in the 3000 m) and won two Olympics medals. She retired soon after the 1988 Olympics and worked as a physiotherapist.

Personal bests:

• 500 m – 41:93 (1981)
• 1000 m – 1:22.00 (1988)
• 1500 m – 2:04.98 (1988)
• 3000 m – 4:16.76 (1988)
• 5000 m – 7:21.61 (1988)