Helmut Recknagel
Biographical information
| Roles | Competed in Olympic Games • Other |
|---|---|
| Sex | Male |
| Full name | Helmut•Recknagel |
| Used name | Helmut•Recknagel |
| Born | 20 March 1937 in Steinbach-Hallenberg, Thüringen (GER) |
| Measurements | 174 cm / 74 kg |
| Affiliations | SC Motor Zella-Mehlis, Zella-Mehlis (GER) |
| NOC |  Germany |
| Nationality |  East Germany |
| Medals | OG |
| Gold | 1 |
| Silver | 0 |
| Bronze | 0 |
| Total | 1 |
Biography
In 1957, Helmut Recknagel became the first non-Scandinavian to win at Holmenkollen in ski jumping. At the 1960 Winter Olympics, he won the ski jumping gold medal and was also the flagbearer of the mixed German team at the opening ceremony. In 1964 he finished sixth and seventh in the normal and the large hill event. He also received the Holmenkollen Medal in 1960, the first German to win the award. Recknagel won the 1962 World Championship at Zakopane and was elected East German Sportsman of the Year. He also won the Four Hills Tournament in 1958, 1959 and 1961.
Recknagel studied veterinary medicine and became a veterinarian. From 1970-90 he was a member of the GDR NOC and after German reunification was a member of the German NOC (1990–93). During this time he also worked as an international ski jumping judge. In East Germany Recknagel was a sports idol for his success and humility. In 2007, on his 70th birthday, he published his autobiography Eine Frage der Haltung (A Question of Posture). In 2011 he was inducted into the German Sports Hall of Fame.
Results
| Games | Discipline (Sport) / Event | NOC / Team | Pos | Medal | Nationality | As | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 Winter Olympics | Ski Jumping (Skiing) | GER |
GDR |
Helmut Recknagel | |||
| Large Hill, Individual, Men (Olympic) | 1 | Gold | |||||
| 1964 Winter Olympics | Ski Jumping (Skiing) | GER |
GDR |
Helmut Recknagel | |||
| Normal Hill, Individual, Men (Olympic) | 6 | ||||||
| Large Hill, Individual, Men (Olympic) | 7 |
Olympic Records
Records may have been broken subsequently during the same competition.| Games | Date | Sport | Event | Phase | Mark | Pos |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 Winter Olympics | 28 February 1960 | Ski Jumping (Skiing) | Large Hill, Individual, Men | Jump #1 | 93.5 | 1 |
Other participations
| Games | Role | NOC | Nationality | As | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 Winter Olympics | Flagbearer at the Opening Ceremony | GER |
GDR |
Helmut Recknagel |
Special Notes
- Listed in Olympians Who Were Awarded the Holmenkollmedaljen (1960 first non-Scandinavian)
- Listed in Olympians Who Were on the Podium at the Four Hills Tournament (1957/58 Total winner, Oberstdorf second, Innsbruck winner, Bischofshofen winner (competed for East Germany); 1958/59 Total winner, Oberstdorf winner, Garmisch-Partenkirchen winner, Innsbruck winner (competed for East Germany); 1960/61 Total winner, Garmisch-Partenkirchen second, Innsbruck second, Bischofshofen winner (competed for East Germany); 1961/62 Bischofshofen second (competed for East Germany); 1962/63 Innsbruck second (competed for East Germany); 1963/64 Bischofshofen third (competed for East Germany))
- Listed in Olympians Who Won a Medal at the World Nordic Ski Championships (2–0–2 1958 Lahti SJP bronze: normal hill (competed for East Germany); 1960 Squaw Valley (Olympics) SJP gold: normal hill; 1962 Zakopane SJP gold: large hill, bronze: normal hill (competed for East Germany))
- Listed in Olympians Who Were Elected East German Athlete of the Year (1962)