Hans GRODOTZKI

Long-distance runner Hans Grodotzki came from Thuringia and was married to the gymnast Karin Jorcik. After World War II the family was re-settled from East Prussia (now Poland) to Menteroda by the Russian authorities. The 1960 Olympics, with two distance silver medals, were the highlight of his career. As of 2014, he is still the only German distance runner to win a 10K Olympic medal. Grodotzki was ranked second on the year-end lists in the 10K in 1959, 1960, and 1962. He was 1959 East German Champion in the 5,000 and in 1960 won the national cross-country title.

In 1991 Grodotzki received the Rudolf-Harbig-Gedächtnispreis, which was given to all East German athletes who were not eligible for this prize as long as Germany was divided. He first worked as a miner in a kali mine before he studied pedagogics at Potsdam and worked as a coach within the East German Army. After German re-unification Grodotzki worked for a German airline.

Personal Bests: 5000 – 13:45.01 (1960); 10000 – 28:37.22 (1960).