Karl-Friedrich HAAS

Karl-Friedrich Haas was married to Maria Sturm-Haas, third in the pentathlon at the 1954 European Championships in athletics. Their son Christian Haas also became a well-known track athlete in the 1980s and 90s. Karl-Friedrich took part in two Olympic Games, in 1952 at Helsinki for West Germany and in 1956 for the mixed German team at Melbourne. He earned a bronze medal in Helsinki with the 4x400 relay, also placing fourth in the 400 meter final, and won a silver medal in the 400 metres four years later, also placing fourth with the relay, and reaching the semifinals of the 200 metres. In Melbourne he was the flagbearer of the mixed German team at the Opening Ceremony. At the European Championships in 1954 Haas also won a relay silver medal and placed fourth over 400 m. Four years later he repeated his silver medal in the relay, adding a bronze in the 400. Domestically Haas was West German Champion over 400 metres from 1952-56, and runner-up in 1951, and 1957-58.

Haas was awarded the Silbernes Lorbeerblatt (Silver Bay Leaf) in 1952 and 1957, also the Rudolf-Harbig-Gedächtnispreis (Memorial Award) in 1957. In 1988 he published his autobiography Meine Erinnerungen - Siege und Niederlagen in der Leichtathletik (My Memories – Wins and Losses in Track and Field). He studied machine engineering and later became a senior manager with Siemens.

Personal Bests: 200 – 21.0 (1956); 400 – 46.29 (1956).