Carlo Thränhardt

Carlo Thränhardt was among the world’s best high jumpers in the 1980s, although his Olympic results were a bit disappointing – 10th in 1984 and 7th in 1988. He first came to prominence with a silver medal at the 1981 European Indoors, followed by the gold medal in 1983, and added three more silvers in 1984, 1986 and 1987. Outdoors, he won bronze at the 1986 Europeans. At the World Championships he was seventh in 1983 and eighth in 1987.

Thränhardt set three world records with 2.37 metres in 1984 (indoor), 2.40 in 1987 and 2.42 in 1988. Later he also set four more world records in the M55 class. In West Germany he won national titles in 1986 and 1991, also winning indoors in 1978 and 1985-88. After his active career he worked as a merchant, author, journalist, keynote speaker and was a frequent prominent guest on German talk shows.

In 2015 Thränhardt was appointed by the German Tennis Federation to the coaching staff of the German Davis Cup team as a fitness and mental coach. From 1993-96 he was responsible for team fitness, including helping train tennis legend Boris Becker. Thränhardt later was active as a golfer and basketball player.

Personal Best: HJ – 2.42i (1988).