Race-walker Roland Wieser trained to become an auto mechanic but later became a sports instructor with the Volkspolizei (People’s Police) in East Berlin. He was European Champion in the 20 km in 1978 and won the bronze medal at the 1980 Moskva Olympics. In 1983 he placed 10th at the World Championships. In 1982, he finished ninth at the European Championships. Domestically, Wieser won the East German title in 1978 in both the 20 and 50 km. He was the first German race walker to better 42 minutes in the 10 km in 1974, recording 41:58.6. In 1978 he set a world record in the 20 km with 1-23:11.5.
Personal Best: 20kmW – 1-21:21t (1979).
East Germany