Volker Beck later became coach of LG Frankfurt and in 2001 was national coach for the German Track & Field Association DLV for the 400-meter hurdles. In 1977 he became the first German to ran the 400 hurdles under 49 seconds. He is the only German Olympic Champion over 400 m hurdles (as of 2014), mainly because Edwin Moses could not start in Moscow in 1980 due to the US-led boycott. There he also won the silver medal in the 4x400 metres relay. Beck never started in the World or European Championships but won the 1977 and 1981 European Cup. He was also East German champion in the indoor 400 m in 1975, 1980 and 1982 and in the 400 m hurdles in 1980, 1981 and 1983.
Personal Bests: 400 – 45.50 (1977); 400H – 48.58 (1979).
East Germany