Rischer began taking ballet lessons at age five because she was sickly as a toddler and her doctor advised that her posture might become permanently damaged because of her illness. Her gymnastics talent was discovered in 1971.[1]
Internationally, she competed at the 1973 World Championships, finishing 21st in the all-around. At the 1975 championships in Madrid, the rhythmic gymnasts from the Soviet Union, Bulgaria and East Germany were absent. In their absence, Rischer and teammate Christiana Rosenberg dominated the competition. Rischer won the all-around title ahead of Rosenberg; she also won the gold medals in hoop and ribbon and a silver medal for clubs.
In 1977, she was invited to an international competition in Canada, but due to an injury, she could not compete.[3] At the 1977 World Championships, she finished 6th in the all-around and ball finals and won silver in the ribbon final.
She was again fourth place in the all-around at the 1980 European Championships, and she also won a bronze medal in the hoop final.[5] In 1981, she competed at the first international rhythmic gymnastics meet held in the United States. She won the all-around event and ribbon finals and was bronze in the hoop final.[6] At her last World Championships in 1981, she was sixth in the all-around and competed in all four apparatus finals.
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