Walter Köstner

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games • Referee
SexMale
Full nameWalter Georg•Köstner
Used nameWalter•Köstner
Born28 June 1936 in Bayreuth, Bayern (GER)
Measurements185 cm / 74 kg
AffiliationsMTV München, München (GER)
NOC Germany West Germany
Nationality West Germany

Biography

Épée and sabre fencer Walter Köstner participated in three consecutive Olympic Games: in 1960 and 1964 within the mixed German team, and in 1968 for West Germany. In all occasions the sabre team reached the quarterfinals, as did the épée team in 1960. Individually he reached the single sabre final pools in 1964 and finished seventh as his best Olympic result. Nationally he claimed four individual sabre and one individual épée titles.

Walter Köstner became “famous” among fencers because he lost his footing while trying to retreat from Jerzy Pawłowski of Poland during the 1964 Olympics and a press photographer happened to take a picture of him horizontal in mid-air.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal Nationality As
1960 Summer Olympics Fencing GER FRG Walter Köstner
Épée, Team, Men (Olympic) Unified Team of Germany =5
Sabre, Individual, Men (Olympic) 6 p3 r3/5
Sabre, Team, Men (Olympic) Unified Team of Germany =5
1964 Summer Olympics Fencing GER FRG Walter Köstner
Sabre, Individual, Men (Olympic) =7
Sabre, Team, Men (Olympic) Unified Team of Germany 6
1968 Summer Olympics Fencing FRG Walter Köstner
Sabre, Individual, Men (Olympic) 5 p4 r2/4
Sabre, Team, Men (Olympic) West Germany =7

Referee

Games Sport (Discipline) / Event NOC / Team Phase Unit Role As
1972 Summer Olympics Fencing FRG Walter Köstner
Sabre, Individual, Men (Olympic) Semi-Finals Pool 1 Jury President
Sabre, Individual, Men (Olympic) Quarter-Finals Pool 3 Jury President
Sabre, Individual, Men (Olympic) Round One Pool 8 Jury President
Sabre, Team, Men (Olympic) Quarter-Finals Romania — France Jury President
Sabre, Team, Men (Olympic) Round One Hungary — Romania Jury President
Sabre, Team, Men (Olympic) Round One Romania — Bulgaria Jury President