Horst TÜLLER

Road cyclist Horst Tüller was on the road race team at the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, winning the bronze medal. Individually he placed unfortunate fourth, after he quit the tactical agreements and allowed his followers to catch and pass him.

Born in Wuppertal, West German Tüller was on holidays at Oberhof in East Germany in 1955, when he decided to stay in East Germany, the only time that a West German sportsman changed to the East, which was one for sports history books. Sports officials allowed him to work in the majesty cabinet of East Berlin and payed him half in East German marks and half in West German marks. The same year he won the East German road race title.

In 1957 Tüller decided to start a professional career and returned to West Germany. He then rode the Tour de France in 1958 and 1960. In 1958 he won his only pro race Tour Around Cologne. In 1963 he retired. Then living in Berlin he owned two lottery shops and some self-service laundries. He later started another sporting career in senior tennis playing.