Due to his simple origins as a baker, West German show jumper Gerd Wintfang struggled relating to his riding colleagues. Nevertheless he claimed team gold at the 1972 München Olympics, placing 16th individually. In 1978 he had his greatest moment, becoming World Champion in Aachen on Roman. In 1982 he added a team silver at the Worlds. At the European Championships Wiltfang won a team gold in 1981, a team silver in 1979, and a team bronze in 1977, and individually he won the 1979 European title. Domestically he was West German champion in 1961, 1971 and 1979. At the age of only 51, he died of heart failure in 1997.