Joachim Franke

Joachim Fritz Franke ( born March 30, 1940 in White Water ) is a successful German speed skating coach. Previously, he was one of the most successful ice hockey player and coach of the GDR.

Joachim Franke played from 1954 to 1968 as a striker for East German giants Dynamo white water. His biggest success as an athlete, he celebrated in 1966 by winning the bronze medal with the East German Ice Hockey Team at the European Championships. He played a total of 127 appearances for the national team of East Germany and took part in six World Cups. At club level, he was from 1959 to 1965 seven times in a row GDR Champion. Then Franke was from 1969 to 1972 Coach White water and took all four possible titles in that time.

In 1973, he began his career as a one-time speed skating coach. His proteges won nine Olympic gold and nine other Olympic medals. 23 times his athletes were world champions for the first time in 1975 by Karin Kessow. In addition, 43 more medals at World Championships. Moreover, his proteges won 21 overall World Cup. From 1990 to 2006, the coach of the Sports Club Berlin Germany coach, then he became head coach. In 2000 he turned down an offer to work for the U.S. federation, from.

Among his proteges and included, among others, the five-time Olympic champion Claudia Pechstein, the two-time Olympic champion Uwe -Jens Mey and the Olympic champion André Hoffmann and Olaf Zinke and Monique Garbrecht, Monique Angermüller and Thomas Schwarz.

Joachim Franke, who was elected in 2001 and 2002 the most successful speed skating coach, was awarded the Federal Cross of Merit for his outstanding achievements in the promotion of athletic young 2002. He got the " Golden Ribbon of the Sports Press " and was Berlin coach of the year 2002. Early as 1988, he was awarded the Order of the GDR Banner of Labor Level I.

Franke lives in Berlin, is married and has two children.