Gerd-Dietmar KLAUSE

In 1975 Gert-Dietmar Klause was the only German (as of 2017), and the first non-Scandinavian, to win the legendary Vasaloppet. He participated in three consecutive Winter Olympics from 1968-76. In 1976 he won the silver medal at 50 km and was sixth in the 30 km at the Innsbruck Olympics. In 1976, the GDR relay had to give up because her leading second runner Axel Lesser had collided with an unknown person and injured. The crew refused to protest because they did not know who to protest against, nor did anybody witness the incident.

In 1970 Klause was runner-up with the East German relay team at the World Championships, winning that title in 1974. Klause also won 20 East German titles (1968 – 15 km, 30 km and relay; 1969 – 30 km, 50 km and relay; 1970 and 1971 – relay; 1972 – 50 km; 1973 – 15 km; 1974 and 1975 – relay; 1976 - 30 km, 50 km and relay; 1977 - 15 km, 50 km and relay; 1978 – 15 km and relay). Klause later worked as a youth coach and a forest manager.