October 13 Birthdays

1950
Annegret Richter, West Germany, sprinter. Annegret Richter (née Irrgang) won the gold medal in the women's 100m and the silver medal in the women's 200m at the 1976 (Montreal) Olympic Games.

1955
Detlef Michel, East Germany, javelin thrower. Throwing 89.48m, Michel won the gold medal in the men's javelin throw at the 1983 (Helsinki) World Championships.

1967
Javier Sotomayor, Cuba, high jumper. In 1984 Sotomayor set a world junior record in the men's high jump of 2.43; by 1988 he had also claimed the men's high jump record by leaping 2.43 meters. However, Cuba boycotted the Olympic Games in both 1984 and 1988, denying Sotomayor the opportunity to compete on an Olympic stage. Fortunately for Sotomayor he was still competing when the Cold War ended, also bringing an end to the golden age of Olympic boycotts. Free to compete, Sotomayor won the gold medal in the high jump at the 1992 (Barcelona) Olympic Games and a silver medal in the event at the 2000 (Sydney) Olympics. Sotomayor also won gold medals in the high jump at the 1993 (Stuttgart) and 1997 (Athens) World Championships and silver medals at the 1991 (Tokyo) and 1995 (Gothenburg) World Championships. During his career he also raised the high jump world record first to 2.44m and then to 2.45m.

1968
Irina Khudoroshkina, Russia, shot putter. Khudoroshkina was the bronze medalist in the women's shot put at the 1996 (Atlanta) Olympic Games. She went on to serve a two-year suspension for doping from 2004 to 2006.