Halina HERRMANN-GORECKA-RICHTER

Polish-born sprinter Halina Richter-Górecka left her home country for West Germany in 1965 when she fled from her team after an international match against Germany in Dortmund. She flew to join her close, young friend Reinhold Herrmann in Köln (Cologne), and in 1966 they married.

In 1962 Richter-Górecka took part in the European Championships over 200 metres. Two years later she was Polish Champion in the 100 and 200 metres. From 1956-64 she started for Poland at the Olympic Games and won a bronze medal in the 4x100 relay in 1960 and a gold medal in 1964. She also reached the 100 m final in 1964 and placed seventh. In 1968 she started for West Germany and was eliminated in the heats of the 100 and 200. Halina Herrmann later worked as an office clerk. In 2012 her gold medal was stolen, among other things, during a burglary in her apartment.

Personal Bests: 100 – 11.5 (1964); 200 – 23.6 (1964).