Rainer Henkel

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameRainer•Henkel
Used nameRainer•Henkel
Born27 February 1964 in Opladen, Leverkusen, Nordrhein-Westfalen (GER)
Measurements198 cm / 85 kg
AffiliationsSV Rhenania Köln, Köln (GER)
NOC West Germany
Medals OG
Gold 0
Silver 1
Bronze 1
Total 2

Biography

Reiner Henkel was a West German long-distance freestyle swimmer who won a silver and a bronze medal with the 4x200 metres relay squads at the 1984 Los Angeles and 1988 Seoul Olympics respectively. Over 1,500 metres he finished an unfortunate fourth behind his teammate Stefan Pfeiffer at Los Angeles, and was sixth at Seoul.

Henkel’s greatest moments came in 1986 when he won the World Championships over 400 and 1,500 metres, and a silver medal in the 4x200 metres relay. Four years earlier he had won a bronze with the relay. At the Europeans he won two more golds, two silvers and one bronze medal, in 1985 and 1987. Henkel also set two World Records with the 4x200 relay squad. Domestically, he won 21 national titles.

Henkel married high jumper Heike Redetzky-Henkel in 1989 but divorced in 2001. He later participated with lower success in the Porsche-Cup as an automobile racer.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1984 Summer Olympics Swimming (Aquatics) FRG Rainer Henkel
1,500 metres Freestyle, Men (Olympic) 4
4 × 200 metres Freestyle Relay, Men (Olympic) West Germany 2 Silver
1988 Summer Olympics Swimming (Aquatics) FRG Rainer Henkel
400 metres Freestyle, Men (Olympic) 17
1,500 metres Freestyle, Men (Olympic) 6
4 × 200 metres Freestyle Relay, Men (Olympic) West Germany 3 Bronze

Olympic family relations

Special Notes