Paul NEFF

West German flyweight wrestler Paul Neff participated in three consecutive Olympic Games in the freestyle division, in 1960 and 1964 with the mixed German team, and in 1968 for West Germany. In Roma he finished unfortunate fourth and in 1964 he was eliminated early in the tournament. In Mexico City he finished seventh.

Domestically he won 18 West German national titles and nine more podiums between 1955 and 1970. He also had several international successes: fourth at the 1961 World Championships, fifth in 1967 and 1969, and sixth in 1957, 1965, 1966 and 1970, all in the freestyle. At the 1966 and 1968 European Championships he won two silver medals and in 1967 he finished fourth, again all in the freestyle. After his active career Neff coached several wrestlers in his home club VfK Schifferstadt. He was a close friend of his teammate Wilfried Dietrich.