Ernst Berndt

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameErnst Helmut•Berndt
Used nameErnst•Berndt
Born17 June 1915 in Liberec, Liberecký kraj (CZE)
Died30 April 1990 in Seesen, Niedersachsen (GER)
AffiliationsReichenberger SC, Liberec (CZE)
NOC Czechoslovakia
Nationality Czechia

Biography

Helmut Berndt was born in Bohemia and competed at the 1936 Olympics for Czechoslovakia as Ernst Berndt, but after World War II he settled in Lower Saxony, became a German citizen, and began to use his middle name, Helmut. competed for Reichenberger TV from 1931-33 and Reichenberger SC from 1933-38. In 1935-36 he was 400 metre hurdles champion of the Sudetenland and Czechoslovakia. After World War II he helped to build up the club MTV Seesen. Berndt began to practice luge in the 1950s and was 1958 German Champion. His greatest athletic title, however, came in 1960 when he won the World Singles Luge title. He also competed in fencing, skiing, and tennis.

In 1961 Berndt received the Silver Laurel Leaf, the highest sports award in Germany, from the German President. He became involved in sports administration as treasurer of the International Luge Federation and Vice-President of the German Bobsleigh, Luge and Skeleton Federation. Berndt was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Department of Sport History of Lower Saxony

Personal Best: 400H – 56.5 (1936).

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal Nationality As
1936 Summer Olympics Athletics TCH CZE Ernst Berndt
400 metres Hurdles, Men (Olympic) 4 h6 r1/3
4 × 400 metres Relay, Men (Olympic) Czechoslovakia DNS