Helga Henning

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexFemale
Full nameHelga•Henning (-Fricke)
Used nameHelga•Henning
Born11 November 1937 in Laatzen, Niedersachsen (GER)
Died11 December 2018 in Hamburg, Hamburg (GER)
Measurements170 cm / 55 kg
AffiliationsSV Polizei Hamburg, Hamburg (GER)
NOC West Germany

Biography

Helga Henning placed seventh in the 400 metres at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, becoming the first German woman to better 53 seconds when she recorded 52.89 in the final. She also placed fourth and fifth at the 1962 and the 1966 European Championships. In 1967 she again placed fifth, this time at the European Cup. Domestically Henning won West German titles in the 400 in 1962, 1963, 1966 and 1968; indoor titles in 1961, 1963, 1966 and 1967; adding two relay titles outdoors and three indoors. In 1963 she set two 400 world records outdoors and indoors, and one indoor relay world record in the 4x200.

Henning was educated as a men’s tailor and later married non-Olympian long distance runner Wolfgang Fricke. For her sporting achievements she was awarded the Hermann-Seiffart-Gedächtnispreis (Memorial Award) in 1974.

Personal Best: 400 – 52.89 (1968).

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1968 Summer Olympics Athletics FRG Helga Henning
400 metres, Women (Olympic) 7

Special Notes