Paul HEMPEL

Paul Hempel was one of the best German long-distance runners before and after World War I, running all distances between 800 metres and the marathon. In total he finished 34 marathons, of which he won nine. In 1921 and 1922 he won the run “Quer durch Berlin” (Across Berlin), but in 1928 at Amsterdam he placed only 31st in the Olympic marathon. Domestically he earned German titles in the marathon from 1923-25, finishing the 1925 race barefoot as he had wounded feet, and was runner-up in 1926, the same year he won the Košice marathon. In 1929 he won the Berlin marathon and won at Košice again in 1930.

Personal Best: Mar – 2-47:05 (1924).