Klaus Richtzenhain

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games • Other
SexMale
Full namePaul Walter Klaus•Richtzenhain
Used nameKlaus•Richtzenhain
Nick/petnamesZappel
Born1 November 1934 in Berlin, Berlin (GER)
Measurements178 cm / 63 kg
AffiliationsSportclub Lokomotive Leipzig/Sportclub Turbine Erfurt
NOC Germany
Nationality East Germany
Medals OG
Gold 0
Silver 1
Bronze 0
Total 1

Biography

Klaus Richtzenhain started within the mixed German team at the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games and won the silver medal in the 1,500, behind Ireland’s Ronnie Delany. Richtzenhain was also eliminated in the heats of the 800. He was the German flagbearer at the Closing Ceremony.

The former soccer player participated in the 1958 Europeans without success. Domestically Richtzenhain won eight East German titles at different distances, mostly in the 1,500. In 1957 he set a world record for 3,000 metres indoor. He was an engineer at Optima, a company producing typewriters.

Personal Bests: 800 – 1:48.9 (1956); 1500 – 3:42.02 (1956).

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal Nationality As
1956 Summer Olympics Athletics GER GDR Klaus Richtzenhain
800 metres, Men (Olympic) 5 h5 r1/3
1,500 metres, Men (Olympic) 2 Silver

Other participations

Games Role NOC Nationality As
1956 Summer Olympics Flagbearer at the Closing Ceremony GER GDR Klaus Richtzenhain