Friedrich (Friedel) SCHIRMER

Friedel Schirmer was a three-time German decathlon champion (1951, 1953-54) and began his Olympic career in 1952 at the Helsinki Games as the West German flagbearer, where he placed eighth in the decathlon. He won four West German decathlon championships, in 1951 (also winning the pentathlon that year), and 1953-54. Schirmer later achieved even greater success as national coach of the German decathletes. In 1964 at Tokyo he coached Willi Holdorf to the Olympic title and Hans-Joachim Walde to the bronze medal. At Mexico City in 1968 he contributed to the success of Walde and Kurt Bendlin, who won the silver and bronze medal, respectively.

After his sports career, Schirmer headed the sports offices in Osnabrück, Bielefeld and Köln (Cologne), and then in North Rhine Westfalia from 1963-83. He also became a member of the German Bundestag as a Social Democrat from 1964-83. In 1984 Schirmer became president of the Association of German Olympic Athletes, and in 1985 a member of the Executive Committee of the German Olympic Association. He held several other sport administrative functions within West Germany.

Personal Best: Dec – 6826 (1956).