Christa grew up in Berlin during World War II. In the chaos that ensued as the Iron Curtain was falling, her family fled to the American sector in West Berlin. Although food and necessities were scarce, young Christa was resilient, pragmatic and importantly, unfailingly positive. These were traits that she carried with her into daily life and served her well in competition.  

Despite her physical limitations and grim living conditions, Christa was determined to live a normal life. She liked going to the park and she enjoyed spending time with friends. But she loved swimming. Once she entered the water, she experienced a weightlessness that transformed her movements. Christa relied on her arms to propel her through the water as her legs dangled behind. Even with the use of only her upper body, Christa could keep up with others. But it was her determination to attend all her classes in her multi-level schoolhouse which would significantly impact her athletic career. Christa would pull herself up the stairs using the banister while friends took turns pushing her from behind. The daily exercise improved her muscle tone and upper body strength, and soon Christa began to outpace her classmates in the pool.

Coaches from other sports saw Christa’s athleticism and drive and they encouraged her to broaden her participation to field events like javelin, discuss, shot put, and hammer throw. Soon, she was a formidable, yet friendly competitor both in the pool and at the track.