Ewald Mertens

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameEwald Walter Gottfried•Mertens
Used nameEwald•Mertens
Born24 September 1909 in Tangermünde, Sachsen-Anhalt (GER)
Died7 February 1965 in Ost-Berlin (East Berlin), Berlin (GER) 
Measurements169 cm / 60 kg
AffiliationsKTV Wittenberg, Lutherstadt Wittenberg (GER)
NOC Germany

Biography

Ewald Mertens, an 800 runner, was eliminated in the semifinals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. He was twice German Champion with the 4x1,500 relay, in 1936-37. He later became a successful coach in Halle and Erfurt in former GDR.

From 1957 Mertens was district coach for the Thuringian Athletic Association and then head coach at SC Turbine Erfurt. Among his pupils were Ulla Donath, Manfred Matuschewski, Jürgen May, and Siegfried Herrmann. Since the start of the East German athletics national team he was the middle-distance coach until his death, including at the 1956 and 1960 Olympics. In his youth he was educated as a shoemaker by his father.

Personal Best: 800 – 1:52.8 (1937).

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1936 Summer Olympics Athletics GER Ewald Mertens
800 metres, Men (Olympic) 5 h2 r2/3