Heinz Mertel

Heinz Mertel was a free pistol sports shooter who participated in three consecutive Olympic Games – 1968 in Mexico City, 1972 in his hometown München, and in 1976 at Montréal. He won the silver medal in 1968, after losing a shoot-off against Soviet Russian Grigory Kosykh, 30-26. He also placed 16th in München, and finally came in an unfortunate fourth in Montréal.

By profession, Mertel was a policeman, competing with Polizeisportverein München and Schützengesellschaft Stadeln bei Fürth. In 1969 he won the European Championship in air pistol and in 1970 he added a bronze at the Worlds with the West German pistol team. He was a nine-time West German Champion.