Helmut Körnig

Helmut Körnig was German champion in the 100 metres in 1926, 1927 and 1930, the 200 m from 1926-28 and 1930, and in the 4x100 relay in 1927 and 1929-30. Over the short sprint distances he set 16 indoor world records, while outdoors he set five world records and nine in the relay. At the Olympic Games Körnig won a bronze medal in the 1928 200 metres at Amsterdam, and also won a silver medal with the sprint relay. Four years later in Los Angeles he was eliminated in the semifinals of the 100 metres and again won a sprint relay silver medal. His sports career ended in early 1934 after acquiring typhoid.

After graduating with a law degree, Körnig was editorial journalist of the daily newspaper Berliner Tageblatt and worked as an assistant director for UFA, the major German film company. After World War II he was head of the division for film, radio and picture in the Federal Executive Committee of the Federation of German Trade Unions DGB in Düsseldorf. From 1953 he ran the Westfalenhallen event venue in Dortmund, first as a board member and later as Managing Director. On an area inside the Westphalia Park in Dortmund Körnig initiated the building of a hall for competition and training, where indoor athletic meets still take place. After his death, the venue was renamed Helmut Körnig Hall.

Personal Bests: 100 – 10.4 (1926); 200 – 20.9 (1932).