Willi Holdorf facts for kids
Willi Holdorf at the 1964 Olympics
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| Personal information | |||||||||||
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| Born | 17 February 1940 Blomesche Wildnis, Schleswig-Holstein, Prussia, Germany |
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| Died | 5 July 2020 (aged 80) Achterwehr, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany |
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| Height | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||||||||||
| Weight | 90 kg (198 lb) | ||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||
| Sport | Decathlon | ||||||||||
| Club | Bayer Leverkusen | ||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | |||||||||||
| Personal best(s) | 7726 (1964) | ||||||||||
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Medal record
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Willi Holdorf (born February 17, 1940 – died July 5, 2020) was a famous athlete from West Germany. He was best known for his amazing skills in the decathlon, a tough event that combines ten different track and field sports.
Contents
A Champion Athlete
Willi Holdorf made history in 1964. He won the very first Olympic medal for Germany in the decathlon. This was a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics! Because of his big win, he was also named the German Sportspersonality of the Year.
Hall of Fame and Olympic Committee
Many years later, in 1997, Willi Holdorf became a member of the German Olympic Committee. This group helps organize sports in Germany. Then, in 2011, he was honored even more. He was added to the German Sports Hall of Fame, which is a special place for top athletes.
His Sporting Achievements
Before his Olympic win, Willi Holdorf was already a strong competitor. He was the German champion in decathlon in both 1961 and 1963. In 1962, he also won the German championship in the 200-meter hurdles race. He competed in the European Championships in 1962 and 1964, where he placed fifth in the decathlon.
Life After Competing
Willi Holdorf first trained to be an electrician. But his love for sports kept him involved. He later worked as a representative for sporting goods companies. He also became a coach for different sports.
Coaching and Management
Willi Holdorf coached several successful athletes. These included Olympic pole vaulters like Claus Schiprowski, Reinhard Kuretzky, and Günther Nickel. Later, he even managed a professional football team called SC Fortuna Köln in the German Bundesliga league. However, the team faced challenges and was moved down to a lower league.
Bobsleigh Success
Willi Holdorf also tried his hand at bobsleigh. In 1973, he competed in the Bobsleigh European Championships. He won a silver medal in the two-man bobsleigh event.
Family Life
Willi Holdorf was the father of Dirk Holdorf. Dirk also became a professional football player, following in his father's footsteps in the world of sports.
See also
In Spanish: Willi Holdorf para niños
