Jürgen Kluge

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameJürgen•Kluge
Used nameJürgen•Kluge
Born29 December 1939 in Aschersleben, Sachsen-Anhalt (GER)
Measurements173 cm / 69 kg
AffiliationsDynamo Magdeburg
NOC East Germany Germany
Nationality East Germany

Biography

As the East German water polo national team won the inter-national qualifying match in 1964 against the West German national team, with a 3-1 win in Magdeburg and a 1-1 tie in Wuppertal, the German Olympic team at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics was an East German one that finished sixth. The team was coached by Rolf Bastel.

Jürgen Kluge from SG Dynamo Magdeburg was among the world’s best water polo players in the 1960s. He was runner-up with East Germany at the 1966 Europeans. That same year Kluge lost the European Cup final with Magdeburg against Partizan Belgrad. In 1968 he returned to the Olympic Games at Mexico City, then representing East Germany. The team also finished sixth, again coached by Rolf Bastel. Kluge defected from East to West Germany in 1980, using a trip to Duisburg for the marriage of his sister. He then became water polo coach at DJK SV Poseidon Duisburg and assistant coach of the West German national team.

In 1968 the DTSB (East German Gymnastics and Sports Association) ended national support for water polo, field hockey, basketball, and some other sports. Participation in international competitions in the capitalist world was forbidden, training sessions me forbidden. Indoor times and training sessions were cancelled. From then on no more water polo activities were allowed in Magdeburg.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal Nationality As
1964 Summer Olympics Water Polo (Aquatics) GER GDR Jürgen Kluge
Water Polo, Men (Olympic) Unified Team of Germany 6
1968 Summer Olympics Water Polo (Aquatics) GDR Jürgen Kluge
Water Polo, Men (Olympic) East Germany 6

Special Notes