Reiner Klimke facts for kids

Klimke on Ahlerich at the 1988 Olympics
Quick facts for kids Personal information
Born	14 January 1936 Münster, Germany
Died	17 August 1999 (aged 63) Münster, Germany
Height	1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	66 kg (146 lb)
Sport
Sport	Equestrianism
Club	RuF Gustav Rau, Telgte RV St. Georg Münster
Medal record Olympic Games Representing  Germany Gold 1964 Tokyo Team Dressage Representing  West Germany Gold 1968 Mexico City Team Dressage Gold 1976 Montréal Team Dressage Gold 1984 Los Angeles Team Dressage Gold 1984 Los Angeles Individual Dressage Gold 1988 Seoul Team Dressage Bronze 1968 Mexico City Individual Dressage Bronze 1976 Montréal Individual Dressage World Championships Gold 1966 Bern Team Dressage Gold 1974 Copenhagen Individual Dressage Gold 1974 Copenhagen Team Dressage Gold 1982 Lausanne Individual Dressage Gold 1982 Lausanne Team Dressage Gold 1986 Cedar Valley Team Dressage Bronze 1966 Bern Individual Dressage European Championships Gold 1959 Harewood Team Eventing Gold 1965 Copenhagen Team Dressage Gold 1967 Aachen Individual Dressage Gold 1969 Wolfsburg Team Dressage Gold 1971 Wolfsburg Team Dressage Gold 1973 Klew Individual Dressage Gold 1973 Klew Team Dressage Gold 1981 Laxenburg Team Dressage Gold 1983 Aachen Team Dressage Gold 1985 Copenhagen Individual Dressage Gold 1985 Copenhagen Team Dressage Silver 1983 Aachen Individual Dressage Bronze 1965 Copenhagen Team Dressage

Reiner Klimke (born January 14, 1936 – died August 17, 1999) was a famous German horse rider. He competed in horse riding events. Reiner won six gold and two bronze medals in dressage at the Olympics. This was a record for horse riding events for a long time. He took part in six Olympic Games between 1960 and 1988. He did not compete in the 1980 Games because West Germany boycotted them.

Reiner Klimke's Riding Career

Reiner Klimke was a very successful horse rider. He learned from famous trainers like Harry Boldt.

Olympic Success

Reiner won many team gold medals at the Olympics.

• In 1964, he won team gold riding a horse named Dux.
• He won again in 1968, also with Dux.
• In 1976, he won team gold riding Mehmed.
• He won two more team golds in 1984 and 1988 with his horse Ahlerich.
• In 1984, he also won an individual gold medal on Ahlerich. This means he won by himself.

He earned two bronze medals in the individual event. These were in 1968 and 1976.

World and European Championships

Reiner Klimke also had amazing results at the World Championships. He won six gold medals there.

• He won individual gold medals in 1974 (on Mehmed) and 1982 (on Ahlerich).
• He also won four team gold medals in 1966, 1974, 1982, and 1986.

At the European Championships, he was the individual champion three times. These wins were in 1967, 1973, and 1985. He was also part of seven winning West German teams.

Early Riding Days

Early in his career, Reiner Klimke also competed in eventing. This sport combines three different types of horse riding. He was part of the West German team that won the 1959 European Championships in eventing. He also competed in show jumping. He even won a big show jumping competition in Berlin.

Reiner Klimke's Family Life

Reiner Klimke came from a family of professionals. His father was a psychologist, and his mother was a neurologist. Reiner was married to Ruth, who was also a top horse rider. She competed in both show jumping and dressage.

They had three children: Ingrid, Rolf, and Michael.

• Their daughter, Ingrid, is also a very successful rider. She competes in both eventing and dressage. Ingrid won a gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics. This was twenty years after her father's last Olympic gold medal.
• Their son, Michael, also competes in dressage at a high level.

Reiner Klimke was not just a rider and trainer. He also had a law firm. He was involved in several important groups related to horse sports. He was on the Dressage Committee for the FEI.

Reiner Klimke passed away from a heart attack in 1999. He was 63 years old. He died in his hometown of Münster. Before he passed away, he had planned to compete in the 2000 Summer Olympics.