Heinz LAUFER

Heinz Laufer came in an unfortunate fourth in the steeplechase at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. The long-distance runner won six West German Championships and an additional two indoor titles. In 1959 he was awarded the Silver Bay Leaf. Laufer was a member of the German Communistic Party (DKP), and served on the council in his hometown of Stuttgart from 1968-75. In 1967 he was a founding member of the Democratic Left Party (DL) and one year later of the DKP. His special interests were social issues, housing and transport planning. After his active career Laufer became a critic of the German Athletics Federation DLV and was therefore often used as a figurehead by the GDR propaganda machine. His son Eberhard also became a long-distance runner.

Personal Best: 3000S – 8:44.53 (1956).