Hans BRANDNER

West German luger Hans Brandner, a plumber by trade, took part in three consecutive Olympic Games and won the silver medal at the 1976 Innsbruck Olympics with his doubles partner Balthasar Schwarm, behind the East Germans Hans Rinn and Norbert Hahn, who they defeated at the 1979 World Championships in Königssee. They also won a World bronze medal in 1977. At the European Championships, they were champions in 1977, won a silver medal in 1972, and twice won bronze medals, in 1973 and 1980. Their medal count was completed by seven German Championships (1971-73, 1975, 1977, 1979 and 1980). Brandner and his family now operate a hotel, the Hochkalter, at Ramsau near Berechtesgaden.