Leah Poulos

Leah Poulos, 1977

Leah Jean Poulos (born October 5, 1951 in Berwyn , Illinois, USA) is a former American speed skater.

Life

Leah Poulos was particularly successful in the sprint and won a silver medal over the 500 meters at the Sprint World Championships in 1970. At the 1972 Winter Olympics, she competed over 1,500 and 3,000 meters, but without winning a medal. In 1974 she became sprint world champion.

At the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, she came 6th over 1500 meters, fourth over 500 meters and then won the silver medal over 1000 meters. At the Sprint World Championships in the same year she won a silver medal behind Sheila Young . The following year she came back to 2nd place at the same event, this time behind Sylvia Burka . In the same year she married the US runner Peter Muellerand (temporarily) withdrew from active sport. The marriage later ended in divorce. But in 1979 Poulos-Mueller, as she was now called, competed again and immediately became sprint world champion. In 1980 she was runner-up again, and at the Olympic Winter Games in Lake Placid that followed, she was able to win a silver medal again over 500 meters and 1000 meters.

Web links

• Leah Poulos at SkateResults.com
• Jakub Majerski's speed skating database
• The National Speedskating Museum and Hall of Fame