Gerhard HONICKE

Gerhard Hönicke, long-distance runner, placed 12th at the 1960 Rome Olympic Games and came in 38th four years later in Tokyo in the marathon. He also participated in three European Championships in 1958, 1962, and 1966. Domestically he collected 12 East German titles over various distances between 5K and the marathon. Hönicke was the first East German athlete under 31 minutes in the 10K (1955) and the first German runner under 2:20 in the marathon (1964). He was among the most successful distance runners in the former GDR in his era. Hönicke was educated as a car electrician and concrete worker.

Personal Bests: 10000 – 29:08.6 (1960); Mar – 2-17:37 (1967).