Rosemarie Springer

Rosemarie Springer (also Rosemarie Alsen, née Lorenz, born July 5, 1920) is a German equestrian. Born in Danzig on July 5, 1920,^[1] she was the daughter of Werner Lorenz, who would later become an SS member and head of the Hauptamt Volksdeutsche Mittelstelle in Nazi Germany.^[2] She first rode a horse at the age of two, sitting on her father's lap, and took up equestrianism at a young age. Her career was interrupted by World War II, however, and she served as a nurse during the conflict. She did not resume riding until 1950 but, soon after, her talents were spotted at horse show in Berlin.^[3] Among other international appearances, she participated in the individual dressage event at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, where she finished seventh in a field of seventeen competitors.^[1] She retired from active competition in the late 1970s, having been the German national champion in women's dressage seven times.^[3]

Following her competitive career, Springer took up judging and training,^[3] the latter of which still occupies her time as of 2012. In her late 80s she continued to ski twice a year and occasionally ride in informal tournaments in Germany.^[4] She married cement manufacturer Horst-Herbert Alsen in 1941 and divorced him in 1953 to marry Alsen's friend, journalist Axel Springer. This union that lasted until 1961, when Springer left her to marry Helga Ludewig.^[5]

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