Hans-Peter Gies

Shot putter Hans-Peter Gies twice narrowly missed a medal at the Olympic Games, placing fourth in 1972 and fifth in 1976. In 1972 he had the same best mark as his teammate Hartmut Briesenick but lost the medal based on the second best mark, with which he trailed Briesenick by only 1 cm. Gies earned the bronze medal at the 1969 European Championships and was East German Champion in 1969, 1972, and 1974. In 1969 he set his only European record with 20.64 m. Gies was well-known as one of the best technicians internationally in shot put. He was educated as a mechanical engineer, but later was employed by the East German Volkspolizei.

Personal Best: SP – 21.31 (1972).