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Biography
Impairment information
Type of Impairment
Spinal Cord Injuries
Origin of Impairment
Acquired
Classification
S7, SB5, SM6
Further personal information
Family
Partner Phillip Semechin
Residence
Berlin, GER
Occupation
Public Speaker
Languages
German, English
Higher education
Insurance - AOK Schleswig-Holstein: Germany
Sport specific information
When and where did you begin this sport?
She began swimming at age three and competing at age 10. Injured in a motorcycle accident in 1991, she did not begin to seriously compete in para-swimming competitions until 2002.
Why this sport?
She chose the sport because her whole family swam and played water polo.
Club / Team
PSV Union Neumunster : Germany
Name of coach
Manfred Bruhn [father], GER, from 1973; Ute Schinkitz [national], GER
Training Regime
She trains 20 to 25 hours a week.
International debut
Year
2003
Competing for
Germany
Location
Edmonton, AB
General interest
Nicknames
Krille [a childhood friend called her that because he could not pronounce her name]. (Athlete, 13 Jul 2010)
Hobbies
Oil painting, designing clothing and jewellery, swimming, driving fast cars. (kirsten-bruhn.de, 04 May 2015)
Memorable sporting achievement
Setting her first world record in the 100m breaststroke in 2002. (ard.de, 12 Oct 2013)
Most influential person in career
Her parents. (kirsten-bruhn.de, 04 May 2015)
Hero / Idol
Her parents. (Athlete, 13 Jul 2010)
Sporting philosophy / motto
"Do not dream your life, live your dreams." (kirsten-bruhn.de, 04 May 2015)
Awards and honours
In 2015 she was named a Member of Honour of PSV Union Neumunster, Germany. (Facebook page, 27 May 2015; psvnms.de, 2015)
She was named Sportswoman of the Year for 2004, 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2014 for the state of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. (kirsten-bruhn.de, 04 May 2015)
She was named Neumunster Female Athlete of the Year 11 times between 2003 and 2014. (kirsten-bruhn.de, 04 May 2015)
In 2013 she won the Sparkassen Prize for Role Model in Sports in Germany. (kirsten-bruhn.de, 04 May 2015)
In 2012 she received the BAMBI Award for her achievements and for her volunteer work in rehabilitation and integration for people with an impairment. (paralympic.org, 28 Nov 2012)
In 2006 she was nominated for a Laureus World Sports Award in the category of Athletes with a Disability. She was the only German athlete to be nominated for a Laureus World Sports Award that year. (kirsten-bruhn.de, 04 May 2015)
In 2005 she was awarded the Silbernen Lorbeerblattes [Silver Bay Leaf], a badge of honour given for outstanding achievements in the fields of sporting and artistic life. (kirsten-bruhn.de, 12 Mar 2010)
She was named Sportswoman of the Year for 2004, 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2014 for the state of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. (kirsten-bruhn.de, 04 May 2015)
She was named Neumunster Female Athlete of the Year 11 times between 2003 and 2014. (kirsten-bruhn.de, 04 May 2015)
In 2013 she won the Sparkassen Prize for Role Model in Sports in Germany. (kirsten-bruhn.de, 04 May 2015)
In 2012 she received the BAMBI Award for her achievements and for her volunteer work in rehabilitation and integration for people with an impairment. (paralympic.org, 28 Nov 2012)
In 2006 she was nominated for a Laureus World Sports Award in the category of Athletes with a Disability. She was the only German athlete to be nominated for a Laureus World Sports Award that year. (kirsten-bruhn.de, 04 May 2015)
In 2005 she was awarded the Silbernen Lorbeerblattes [Silver Bay Leaf], a badge of honour given for outstanding achievements in the fields of sporting and artistic life. (kirsten-bruhn.de, 12 Mar 2010)
Famous relatives
Her partner Phillip Semechin has been the coach of the German national para-swimming team. (schwaebische.de, 02 May 2015; woman.brigitte.de, 06 Mar 2014)
Impairment
In 1991 she was involved in a motorcycle accident while on holiday on the Greek island of Kos. She has permanent damage to her spinal cord and incomplete paraplegia. (kirsten-bruhn.de, 04 May 2015)
Other information
OTHER ACTIVITIES
She has worked in the public relations department of the Accident Hospital in Berlin, Germany and as an ambassador for the German Red Cross and Den Weissen Ring [The White Ring], an organisation which helps victims of crime in Germany. (kirsten-bruhn.de, 04 May 2015; tagesspiegel.de, 03 Nov 2014)
DOCUMENTARY
In 2013 she was a major character in the documentary called 'Gold - du kannst mehr als du denkst' ('Gold - you can do more than you think'), which was about her life. (kirsten-bruhn.de, 04 May 2015)
She has worked in the public relations department of the Accident Hospital in Berlin, Germany and as an ambassador for the German Red Cross and Den Weissen Ring [The White Ring], an organisation which helps victims of crime in Germany. (kirsten-bruhn.de, 04 May 2015; tagesspiegel.de, 03 Nov 2014)
DOCUMENTARY
In 2013 she was a major character in the documentary called 'Gold - du kannst mehr als du denkst' ('Gold - you can do more than you think'), which was about her life. (kirsten-bruhn.de, 04 May 2015)
Results
| Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's 50 m Freestyle S7 | Final Round | 5 | ||
| Women's 100 m Backstroke S7 | Heat 2 | 2 | ||
| Women's 100 m Backstroke S7 | Final Round | 1 | ||
| Women's 50 m Freestyle S7 | Heat 1 | 3 | ||
| Women's 4x100 m Medley 34pts | Heat 2 | 5 | ||
| Women's 4x100 m Freestyle 34pts | Final Round | 9999 | ||
| Women's 4x100 m Freestyle 34pts | Heat 2 | 3 | ||
| Women's 100 m Freestyle S7 | Final Round | 5 | ||
| Women's 100 m Freestyle S7 | Heat 1 | 2 | ||
| Women's 100 m Breaststroke SB5 | Final Round | 1 | ||
| Women's 100 m Breaststroke SB5 | Heat 2 | 1 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's 100 m Backstroke S7 | Heat 2 | 1 | ||
| Women's 100 m Breaststroke SB5 | Final Round | 1 | ||
| Women's 100 m Breaststroke SB5 | Heat 2 | 1 | ||
| Women's 400 m Freestyle S7 | Final Round | 3 | ||
| Women's 400 m Freestyle S7 | Heat 1 | 3 | ||
| Women's 100 m Freestyle S7 | Final Round | 3 | ||
| Women's 50 m Freestyle S7 | Final Round | 3 | ||
| Women's 50 m Freestyle S7 | Heat 2 | 1 | ||
| Women's 100 m Backstroke S7 | Final Round | 2 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's 50 m Freestyle S7 | Final Round | 2 | ||
| Women's 50 m Freestyle S7 | Heats | 1 | ||
| Women's 100 m Backstroke S7 | Heats | 1 | ||
| Women's 100 m Backstroke S7 | Final Round | 1 | ||
| Women's 100 m Breaststroke SB5 | Heats | 1 | ||
| Women's 100 m Breaststroke SB5 | Final Round | 1 | ||
| Women's 100 m Freestyle S7 | Heats | 1 | ||
| Women's 100 m Freestyle S7 | Final Round | 2 | ||
| Women's 400 m Freestyle S7 | Heats | 5 | ||
| Women's 400 m Freestyle S7 | Final Round | 2 | ||
| Women's 4x100 m Freestyle 34 pts | Final Round | 3 | ||
| Women's 4x100 m Medley 34 pts | Final Round | 7 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's 100 m Breaststroke SB5 | Final Round | 1 | ||
| Women's 100 m Backstroke S7 | Final Round | 2 | ||
| Women's 100 m Backstroke S7 | Heat 2 | 2 | ||
| Women's 400 m Freestyle S7 | Final Round | 4 | ||
| Women's 400 m Freestyle S7 | Heat 1 | 1 | ||
| Women's 100 m Freestyle S7 | Final Round | 3 | ||
| Women's 100 m Freestyle S7 | Heat 2 | 1 | ||
| Women's 50 m Freestyle S7 | Final Round | 2 | ||
| Women's 50 m Freestyle S7 | Heat 2 | 2 | ||
| Women's 4x50 m Freestyle 20 pts | Final Round | 6 | ||
| Women's 4x100 m Medley 34 pts | Final Round | 6 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's 100 m Backstroke S7 | Heat 2 | 2012-08-30 | 1 | |
| Women's 100 m Backstroke S7 | Final Round | 2012-08-30 | 2 | |
| Women's 100 m Freestyle S7 | Final Round | 2012-09-03 | 5 | |
| Women's 100 m Freestyle S7 | Heat 1 | 2012-09-03 | 2 | |
| Women's 50 m Freestyle S7 | Heat 2 | 2012-09-04 | 3 | |
| Women's 50 m Freestyle S7 | Final Round | 2012-09-04 | 5 | |
| Women's 100 m Breaststroke SB5 | Final Round | 2012-09-05 | 1 | |
| Women's 100 m Breaststroke SB5 | Heat 2 | 2012-09-05 | 1 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women's 50 m Freestyle S7 | Heat 1 | 2013-08-14 | 6 | |
| Women's 50 m Freestyle S7 | Final 1 | 2013-08-14 | 6 | |
| Women's 100 m Backstroke S7 | Final 1 | 2013-08-15 | 1 | |
| Women's 100 m Breaststroke SB5 | Heat 2 | 2013-08-16 | 1 | |
| Women's 100 m Breaststroke SB5 | Final 1 | 2013-08-16 | 1 |