Trilingual Book Edition "The Olympic Team of the Federal Republic of Germany", published by the National Olympic Committee for Germany, Verlag pro Sport, Munich 1972, featuring over 250 original signatures of participating athletes, most placed next to th München u. Kiel. 8vo.
$ 4,041 / 3.500 €
(81138)
Trilingual book edition “The Olympic Team of the Federal Republic of Germany”, edited by the National Olympic Committee for Germany, published by Verlag pro Sport, Munich 1972, with over 250 original autographs of participants, mostly next to their portraits/biographies – including Federal Chancellor Willy Brandt (1913–1992), who served as Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany from 1969 to 1974. The book is one of 18 (unnumbered) copies that were given to sponsors of the "German Sports Aid Foundation", each of whom had donated DM 200 (according to two accompanying letters from the foundation dated 1973).
Rare in this context. Among the former athletes who signed the front endpaper are cycling world champion Rudi Altig (1937–2016) and national football coach Helmut Schön (1915–1996), who would go on to lead the German national team to a World Cup victory in 1974. Boxing: Peter Hussing (1948–2012), known for his liver punch, won bronze at the 1972 Olympics in Munich after losing in the semifinals by KO to Teófilo Stevenson (Cuba). Dieter Kottysch (1943–2017) was the first West German boxer to win a post-war Olympic gold medal in light middleweight. He narrowly defeated Wiesław Rudkowski on points (3:2 judges' decision). ???? Gold Medal Field Hockey Team: Dieter Freise (1945–2018) played as a defender in the team that defeated reigning world champion Pakistan to win gold in Munich. Other signers from the gold-winning team include: Horst Dröse, Carsten Keller (captain), Detlev Kittstein, Ulrich Klaes, Peter Kraus, Michael Peter (the “Beckenbauer of German hockey), Fritz “Schimmi” Schmidt, Rainer Seifert, Wolfgang Strödter, Eckart Suhl, Eduard Thelen, and Peter Trump. ???? Track & Field: Hildegard Falck (b. 1942) won Olympic gold in the 800 m and bronze in the 4×400 m relay. She was the world record holder in the 800 m from 1971–1973. Bernd Kannenberg (b. 1942) won gold in the 50 km race walk in 3:56:11.6 h, and was promoted to staff sergeant for this achievement. Ulrike Meyfarth (b. 1956), at just 16, won high jump gold in Munich with a world record of 1.92 m using the Fosbury Flop. She remains the youngest female track & field Olympic champion in an individual event. She later won gold again in 1984. Ingrid Mickler (b. 1942) won gold in the 4×100 m relay in Munich, and previously gold in the pentathlon in 1968. Heide Rosendahl (b. 1947) won two gold and one silver medal in 1972 (long jump, 4×100 m relay with a world record, and pentathlon). Heidi Schüller (b. 1950) was the first woman ever to deliver the Olympic Oath. She placed fifth in the long jump. Klaus Wolfermann (b. 1946) won gold in the javelin throw with a distance of 90.48 m. ???? Equestrian: Liselott Linsenhoff (1927–1999) was a leading German dressage rider, winning gold in 1972 with her horse Piaff, after earlier Olympic successes. Fritz Ligges (1938–1996) and his horse Robin surprised as the top German pair in the team event, helping secure gold. Hartwig Steenken (1941–1978) was renowned as one of the finest stylists in show jumping. Gerd Wiltfang (1946–1997) later became world champion in 1978. He could not compete in the 1980 Moscow Games due to the boycott. Hans Günter Winkler (1926–2018), one of Germany’s most decorated Olympians with five golds and one silver, won team gold in 1972. ???? Wrestling: Wilfried Dietrich (1933–1992), 1960 Olympic gold medalist, achieved legendary status in 1972 with a dramatic win over the 182 kg American Chris Taylor, despite no medal. ???? Rowing (Gold Quadruple Sculls): Hans-Johann Färber, Peter Berger, Alois Bierl, Gerhard Auer (1943–2019), and cox Uwe Benter won gold for West Germany in Munich. All except Berger signed the book. ???? Shooting: Konrad "Conny" Wirnhier (1937–2002) won Olympic gold in skeet shooting. ???? Swimming: Walter Kusch (b. 1954) would win bronze in Montreal 1976 and became world champion in 1978 (100 m breaststroke). Werner Lampe (b. 1952) won bronze in the 200 m freestyle in 1972 and silver in the 4×200 m relay with Klaus Steinbach, Hans-Günther Vosseler, and Hans Fassnacht (all but Fassnacht signed the book). Klaus Steinbach (b. 1953) later achieved multiple European and World titles in relay events. ⛵ Sailing: Wilhelm "Willi" Kuhweide (b. 1943) earned bronze in the Star class in Kiel and was flag bearer in 1984. ???? Gymnastics: Eberhard Gienger (b. 1951) gained experience in 1972, then dominated horizontal bar events in the following years, including Olympic bronze in 1976. The "Gienger-Salto" is named after him. ???? Handball: Although the West German handball team finished 6th and did not win a medal, the entire team signed this copy: Herwig Ahrendsen, Hans-Jürgen Bode, Wolfgang “Brauni” Braun, Peter Bucher, Jochen Feldhoff, Diethard Finkelmann, Josef “Seppi” Karrer, Klaus Kater, Klaus Lange, Herbert Lübking, Heiner Möller, Hans-Peter Neuhaus, Uwe Rathjen, Herbert Rogge, Herbert Wehnert, and Klaus Westebbe..