René Herms

Originally a handball player, René Herms switched to sprinting in 1997, eventually settling on the 800 m in 2001. That same year, he won all German junior titles in that event, as well as the European junior title. From 2002 through 2006 he then won all German championships in the event, both indoor and outdoor. In his first senior season, he also reached the final of the European Championships (7th), and added became European U23 champion in 2003. Three years in a row, he reached the semi-finals of the World Championships / Olympic Games, but never progressed into the final. In January 2009, René Herms was found death in his appartment. The police declared there were no obvious causes for his death, which required further investigation.

Personal Best: 800 – 1:44.14 (2004).