Uwe FREIMUTH

East German decathlete Uwe Freimuth was the twin brother of high jumper Jörg Freimuth. He was married briefly to non-Olympian Anke Tröger (Youth European Champion 1981 in heptathlon), and their son Rico took part in the 2012 London Olympics. Rico’s twin brother Hanno became youth national player in basketball.

Freimuth placed fourth at the 1983 World Championships and sixth at the 1986 European Championships. As a medal favorite for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics he could not start there due to the Eastern boycott led by the USSR. Four years later he placed only 18th. Domestically Freimuth won four titles: 1984-86, and 1988. The qualified sports teacher later became a coach, serving as national coach of Malaysia and regional coach of the Track and Field Association of Bavaria. In 2002 he finished his dissertation, and in 2007 went back to Malaysia and became a Consultant for Development at the Institute of Sports (ISN) in Kuala Lumpur. In 2009, he became Sports Director and Chief Coach of the Track and Field Association of Vietnam.

Personal Best: Dec – 8,792 (1984).