Rolf Maier

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameRolf•Maier
Used nameRolf•Maier
Born16 December 1936 in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg (GER)
Died30 March 2023 in Acheux-en-Amiénois, Somme (FRA)
Measurements163 cm / 75 kg
AffiliationsU. Roubaisienne SA, Roubaix (FRA)
NOC France

Biography

Rolf Maier was a French weightlifter who competed in the middleweight category. Maier was born in Stuttgart before moving to France after the end of World War II where he became a naturalised citizen. At the 1959 Mediterranean Games he had his first international success when he won the silver medal. The following year he competed at the Roma Olympics where he finished just outside the top 10 in 11th place. At the 1964 Tokyo Olympics he improved on his previous performance, finishing in seventh.

At the 1965 European Championships Maier lifted 422.5 kg to win the bronze medal. Two years later he had arguably his best performance at an international competition when he won gold at the 1967 Mediterranean Games. In 1968 he competed in his third and final Olympics, finishing in ninth place at the Mexico City Games.

Maier was not selected to compete at the 1972 München Olympics and retired from the sport, not before being appointed as regional technical adviser in Picardy, north France. He coached Daniel Senet, who went on to win gold and set a world record in the snatch at the 1981 World Championships. One of the national training centres for the 2024 Paris Olympics was named after him.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1960 Summer Olympics Weightlifting FRA Rolf Maier
Middleweight, Men (Olympic) 11
1964 Summer Olympics Weightlifting FRA Rolf Maier
Middleweight, Men (Olympic) 7
1968 Summer Olympics Weightlifting FRA Rolf Maier
Middleweight, Men (Olympic) 9

Special Notes