Theo MERKEL

Theo Merkel participated as a biathlete at the 1968 Grenoble Olympics. He finished 12th in the individual 20 km event and ninth with the West German team. He also came in 50th at the 1972 Sapporo Games over 20 km. Merkel was considered as one of the pioneers of biathlon in West Germany and became a coach and well-known administrator in this sport.

Merkel was responsible for building up his hometown Ruhpolding as one of the main biathlon sites in the world. He was also a Nordic combined skier, sports shooter, and football (soccer) player. In 2002, Merkel died after a long and severe illness. His non-Olympian brother Herbert was also a cross-country skier and biathlete.