Waldemar Cierpinski

Waldemar Cierpinski ( born August 3, 1950 in Neugattersleben ) is a former East German marathon runner and Olympic champion.

Sporting career and achievements

For the GDR starting, succeeded him as the only athlete next Abebe Bikila, twice to win a gold medal at the Olympic Games in the marathon, and indeed in Montreal in 1976 and in Moscow in 1980. After his finish of the famous sports reporter on GDR television Heinz Florian Oertel exclaimed with enthusiasm: " Dear young fathers or budding, you have courage! Name your new arrivals of the day quietly Waldemar! Waldemar is here! "

His sporting achievements also include the bronze medal at the World Athletics Championships 1983 in Helsinki, a fourth place finish at the European Athletics Championships 1978 in Prague and a sixth place at the European Championships 1982 in Athens, as well as five East German champion.

With his Olympic victory achieved at the 1976 personal best time of 2:09:55 h, it is the fifth fastest German marathon runner of all time (as of 1 August 2010).

Waldemar Cierpinski is 1,70 m tall and weighed about 59 kg competition times.

Personal

Cierpinskis parents fled in early 1945 with a trek from her home in Kobylin to East Germany, where she Neugattersleben (Saxony- Anhalt) and settled agriculture.

Since 1965 Cierpinski lives in Halle an der Saale. He is since 1990 owner of a sporting goods shop in Halle, since 1994, he leads another in Quedlinburg. As a member of the NOC he committed himself to the Olympic bid of Leipzig. He also acts in the organization of the Central German marathons between Spergau and Halle.

1992 Hall appeared in lists of unofficial employees, which suggest the suspicion that Cierpinski worked for the Ministry of State Security under the code name " Willi". According to a report of the mirror is also a of Cierpinski with real names signed in front of " gag order " on April 26, 1973. Cierpinski denies the allegations.

Cierpinski is married to the former middle distance runner Maritta Politz and father of three sons; his son Falk Cierpinski is also a successful marathon runner and triathlete.

Awards (selection)

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