Karl-Hans Riehm

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameKarl-Hans•Riehm
Used nameKarl-Hans•Riehm
Born31 May 1951 in Konz, Rheinland-Pfalz (GER)
Measurements187 cm / 112 kg
AffiliationsTV Germania Trier, Trier (GER) / TV Wattenscheid, Wattenscheid, Bochum (GER)
NOC West Germany
Medals OG
Gold 0
Silver 1
Bronze 0
Total 1

Biography

During the 1970s and 1980s Karl-Hans Riehm was among the world’s best hammer throwers. He earned a silver medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and finished 10th in 1972 and fourth in 1976. Riehm would have been one of the favorites in 1980, but due to the US-led boycott could not start in Moskva. In 1983, he placed seventh at the World Championships. Riehm won the World Cup in 1977 and was runner-up in 1979 and 1981. He won bronze at the 1978 European Championships, also winning European Cups in 1975, 1977, and 1979, and was runner-up in 1981. Domestically he won 10 West German titles in 1973, 1975-81, and 1983-84. During and after his athletics career he competed at table tennis.

He had a tremendous moment in his career at an athletics meeting in Rehlingen on 19 May 1975, when all six of his throws beat the previous world record of 76.66 by Aleksey Spiridonov, and three of them (76.70, 77.56, and finally 78.50) set new world records.

Riehm was awarded the Rudolf Harbig Memorial Award in 1982; the Silver Bay Leaf in 1975; and the Sports Badge of North Rhine Westfalia in 1984. The educated interior architect later owned a carpenter’s workshop in Konz. His son Michael also became a hammer thrower.

Personal Best: HT – 80.80 (1980).

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1972 Summer Olympics Athletics FRG Karl-Hans Riehm
Hammer Throw, Men (Olympic) 10
1976 Summer Olympics Athletics FRG Karl-Hans Riehm
Hammer Throw, Men (Olympic) 4
1984 Summer Olympics Athletics FRG Karl-Hans Riehm
Hammer Throw, Men (Olympic) 2 Silver

Special Notes