Walter Sawall

Walter Sawall ( born July 18, 1899 in Morgenroth in Bytom, † January 31, 1953 in Erkner ) was a German racing cyclist.

Even in his school days Sawall Walter was extremely athletic and a very good gymnast. At 15 he left school because he had eight siblings and had to contribute to the family income. He worked as a bike rider and newspaper and so came into contact with the cycling. In 1916 he ran his first race. As a stayer he was discovered by the pacemaker Emil Meinhold. Twice, in 1928 and 1931, he was champion of the uprights and three times German champion stayer (1927, 1929, 1931). He also drove six-day race. The cyclist was Brennabor and later sponsored by the Brandenburg car and bike company of Opel. Later he also learned to fly and became friends during this time with the aviator Elly Beinhorn. As his athletic success secret was his discipline and determination; he kept fit by forest skiing, cross country skiing, hockey, boxing and a special breathing technique. With the money he had earned by the sport, he bought his parents a house in Erkner.

For four years, was Sawalls standard pacemaker Frenchman Ernest Pasquier, although the two linguistically could not communicate. 1931 separated the two in battle. 1934 Walter Sawall withdrew because of an intestinal disease from power cycling. He died in 1953 of a brain tumor.

In Erkner in 1932 during his lifetime, the street in which he lived, named after him. The nephew of Walter Sawall, Günther Georgens, left it to the local museum Erkner numerous mementos of his uncle.