Andreas Kirchner

Andreas Kirchner ( born August 17, 1953 in Erlbach- Kirchberg, † November 10, 2010 in Suhl ) was a German Bobsportler, of the Four-Man GDR won the gold medal at the Olympic Games in 1984 (along with coxswain Wolfgang Hoppe and Roland Wetzig and Dietmar Schauer hammer). For the Bobbesatzung was elected East German athletes of the year 1984. In addition, the athletes received the Patriotic Order of Merit in gold.

Life

Andreas Kirchner began his sports career in athletics as a hammer thrower ( personal best: 65.22 m on 19 June 1975 in Karl- Marx-Stadt ). In 1977, he joined the bobsleigh. In 1979 he was East German champion in the two- and European Championships bronze medalist in the four-man event (each with coxswain Horst Schönau ). In 1980 he was part of the crew of the GDR four-man bob, who won the bronze medal at the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid.

After winning medals at the World and European Championships in 1981 and 1982 (1981: European Championship runner-up in Four-Man World Championship runner-up in the two-, 1982: in the two-man bob World Cup medalist and European Championship runner-up ) the crew of the Bob Horst Schönau failed to qualify for the Olympic Games 1984. Andreas Kirchner was then used on the four-man event by Wolfgang Hoppe. On this he went to the Olympic victory until 1986, but without another medal win in international highlights.

Andreas Kirchner launched for the Army Sports Club ASK forward Oberhof; his coaches were Erich Enders and Raimund Bethge. He was an officer of the NVA and graduated from the Sport University DHfK. After his athletic career, he completed postgraduate studies in Jena, and then worked as a teacher of physical education and English in Suhl. A lengthy illness had in the 2000s, the resignation of the education service result. On 14 May 2011, he was buried in Suhl.