Günter TRAUB

Speed skater Günter Traub, brother of Jürgen Traub, competed for the mixed German team at the 1964 Innsbruck Winter Games. Günter placed 33th in the 500 m, 17th in the 1,500 m, 11th in the 5,000 m, and 19th in the 10,000 metres. At the 1968 Grenoble Olympics he finished 31st in the 500 m, 15th in the 1,500 m, 13th in the 5,000 m, and 11th in the 10,000 metres, by then representing West Germany. Traub won four West German all-around titles 1961-63, and 1968.

Traub was a roller skater until 1959, as was his brother Jürgen. In 1963, Günter set a world record in the speed skating all-around, which he repeated in 1968. One year later he turned to coaching and became US national head coach from 1969-70. After a severe training crash, he served as the Italian national coach from 1970-72.

In 1973 Traub was engaged by Ford motor racing as a fitness coach for motor sport athletes such as Niki Lauda, Hans-Joachim Stuck, Jackie Stewart and Jochen Mass. Traub later moved to St. Moritz to work as a freelance sports and fitness coach, working with, among others, Formula 1 racer Michael Schumacher. Traub also participated in several senior championships as a speed skater. At the age of 75 years he had another severe crash when training on his bicycle in Mallorca, breaking his femur, but he again recovered well.

Personal Bests: 500 – 40.7 (1968); 1000 – 1:21.3 (1968); 1500 – 2:03.8 (1968); 5000 – 7:38.6 (1968); 10000 – 15:42.6 (1968).