Hans Günter Winkler

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games • Other
SexMale
Full nameHans Günter•Winkler
Used nameHans Günter•Winkler
Born24 July 1926 in Barmen, Wuppertal, Nordrhein-Westfalen (GER)
Died9 July 2018 in Warendorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen (GER)
Measurements174 cm / 72 kg
AffiliationsRFV Warendorf, Warendorf (GER)
NOC Germany West Germany
Nationality West Germany
Medals OG
Gold 5
Silver 1
Bronze 1
Total 7

Biography

Hans Günter Winkler has the finest record of any German show jumper and his international record is rivalled only by France’s Pierre Jonquères d’Oriola and Italy’s Raimondo D’Inzeo. Winkler won seven Olympic medals (five gold and both one silver and bronze), with one in the individual event, a gold in 1956. This victory became legendary: in the first round, he tore a groin muscle and had to be tied onto his mare Halla for the second round. Nevertheless, Halla made a faultless round, although Winkler screamed in pain at every obstacle, and won gold.

In 1976 Winkler was the flagbearer for West Germany at the Opening Ceremony and won a silver with the show jumping team, but that followed Olympic team golds in 1956, 1960, 1964, and 1972, and he finished his Olympic career with a team silver in 1976. He later wrote several books, organized many riding tournaments, and was the team leader of the German show jumpers in 1988 and 1992. In 2006 he was inducted into the German Sports Hall of Fame.

Winkler’s 1956 Olympic gold medal was his third consecutive international title as he won the first two World Championships in show jumping which were held in 1954 and 1955. For his sporting achievements he was elected German Sportsman of the Year in 1955 and 1956. At the European Championships Winkler won the gold medal in individual jumping in 1957 and added a silver in 1962 and bronzes in 1958, 1961, and 1969, all in the individual event. In all he competed 108 times internationally for Germany from his international début in 1952, retiring only in 1986. His greatest successes came on Halla (1945-1979), the only horse to ride to three Olympic gold medals, team and individual in 1956 and team in 1960. Winkler was also the son-in-law of Flor Isava-Fonseca, IOC member for Venezuela.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal Nationality As
1956 Equestrian Olympics Equestrian Jumping (Equestrian) GER Hans Günter Winkler
Individual, Open (Olympic) Halla 1 Gold
Team, Open (Olympic) Halla / Unified Team of Germany 1 Gold
1960 Summer Olympics Equestrian Jumping (Equestrian) GER FRG Hans Günter Winkler
Individual, Open (Olympic) Halla 5
Team, Open (Olympic) Halla / Unified Team of Germany 1 Gold
1964 Summer Olympics Equestrian Jumping (Equestrian) GER FRG Hans Günter Winkler
Individual, Open (Olympic) Fidelitas 16
Team, Open (Olympic) Fidelitas / Unified Team of Germany 1 Gold
1968 Summer Olympics Equestrian Jumping (Equestrian) FRG Hans Günter Winkler
Individual, Open (Olympic) Enigk 5
Team, Open (Olympic) Enigk / West Germany 3 Bronze
1972 Summer Olympics Equestrian Jumping (Equestrian) FRG Hans Günter Winkler
Team, Open (Olympic) Torphy / West Germany 1 Gold
1976 Summer Olympics Equestrian Jumping (Equestrian) FRG Hans Günter Winkler
Individual, Open (Olympic) Torphy =10
Team, Open (Olympic) Torphy / West Germany 2 Silver

Other participations

Games Role NOC As
1976 Summer Olympics Flagbearer at the Opening Ceremony FRG Hans Günter Winkler

Olympic family relations

Special Notes