Emil HIRSCHFELD

Emil Hirschfeld won the shot put bronze medal in 1928 at Amsterdam, while in 1932 he placed fourth and retired in the discus throw qualifying round. He was German Champion in 1928, 1929, 1931 and 1932 in the shot put, 1928 in the both-handed shot put, and 1929 and 1932 in the discus throw. Internationally Hirschfeld earned nine caps. He became the first shot putter to break the 16 metre barrier, when he recorded 16.04 at Bochum, Germany on 26 August 1928.

In 1950 Hirschfeld placed second at the GDR nationals in the shot, coming in third in 1951. He was involved in establishing the 1950 Athletics Unit Training Center in Halle. In Halle he worked as an athletics coach, coaching shot putter Renate Boy (née Garisch-Culmberger) among others. His son Erhard also became a shot putter. His Amsterdam bronze medal, which he had lost during an air raid on Berlin, was found by construction workers in 1955 in an excavation in the eastern sector of Berlin and he received it back. It. By profession he was a soldier, becoming an officer in the Nationale Volksarmee (National People's Army).

Personal Bests: SP – 16.04 (1928); DT – 46.08 (1932).