Dietmar MÖGENBURG

High jumper Dietmar Mögenburg was nominated for the 1980 Moscow Olympics but could not start due to the US-led boycott which West Germany joined. Four years later in Los Angeles he claimed the gold medal for his career’s greatest moment. At Seoul in1988 he placed sixth, while in 1992 at Barcelona he did not qualify for the final. During the 1980s Mögenburg was among the world’s best high jumpers, and he was ranked #1 of the world in 1979. At the World Championships he finished fourth in both 1983 and 1987. His second greatest success was winning the European Championships in 1982, also placing fourth in 1986 and 1990.

Indoor Mögenburg also had several podium finishes, including the 1989 Worlds (silver), and the 1980, 1982, 1984, 1986 and 1989 Europeans (gold), the 1981 and 1988 Europeans (silver), and the 1990 Europeans (bronze). In West Germany he won outdoor titles in 1981-85 and 1987-90, and indoors in 1979-81, 1984, and 1989. He also set three world records during his career. His excellent performances were honored by several awards: Sports Badge of North Rhine Westfalia (1984), Silver Bay Leaf (1980) and the Rudolf-Harbig-Gedächtnispreis (Memorial Award) in 1988.

Mögenburg studied sports management and married non-Olympian Norwegian long jumper Kristin Gussgard Gran. Both moved to Norway near Holmenkollen in 2006. Their children Jonas and Katarina were both avid track and field athletes, and Jonas was 2008 Norwegian Champion in the long jump.

Personal Best: HJ – 2.39i (1985).