Rudolf Mang was a heavyweight lifter whose duels with Soviet Russian Vasili Alekseyev became legendary during the 1970s. He burst onto the national scene fairly young at only 14, when he competed against much older opponents. At the 1968 Mexico City Olympics he finished fifth in the heavyweight class and, four years later in München, won the silver medal in the unlimited class.
For his accomplishments Mang was awarded the Silver Bay Leaf, Germany’s highest sports award. He was also on the podium winning silver medals at the 1972 and 1973 World Championships in the unlimited class, and at the 1972 European Championships. He also won bronze medals at the 1971-73 European Championships. Mang set two unlimited world records – one in the press in 1972 and one in the snatch in 1973. Mang later owned a company producing training tools and a sports studio. He died from a heart attack at the age of 67.
West Germany