Friedmann had her greatest success in 1980. She won the West German title in the 3000 m with a run of 9:02 minutes. This gained her selection for the 1980 World Championships in Athletics – a two-event competition created by the International Amateur Athletics Federation in response to the lack of the women's 400 metres hurdles and 3000 m run at the 1980 Summer Olympics. Friedmann defeated all-comers at the competition and became the first ever women's 3000 m world champion with a personal best run of 8:48.05 minutes (also a West German record). The year after she won her third 3000 m national title and also placed third in the 1500 m. She also won the semi-final 1981 European Cup competition.