Peter Frenkel

Peter Frenkel specialized in the 20 km walk, and was the best East German walker of the later 1960s and early 1970s. He recorded two World Records, 1-25:50 in 1970, and 1-25:19.4 in 1972. In addition to his Olympic performances, winning the gold medal in 1972 and the bronze medal in 1976, he placed fourth at the 1971 European Championships. Frenkel was world-ranked #1 in both 1970 and 1972.

Frenkel later studied photography from 1972-76 and became a freelance photographer, exhibiting his photos in Germany and foreign countries, and serving as a lecturer for photography at the Rhein-Sieg-Kunstakademie in Hennef. Frenkel became a member of the German NOC in 1990, was the spokesman of the German Olympians Association (GOD) and a member of the German Artists Association. Later he became press secretary of his renamed home club OSC Potsdam.

Personal Best: 20kmW – 1-23:30 (1974).