Hanns Kilian

Kilian later became one of the most prominent administrators of bobsledding in West Germany. He was president of the Bob- und Schlittenverband für Deutschland e.V. (BSD) from 1956-1968, and until his death in 1981 he was its honorary president and also a member of the Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et Tobogganing (FIBT). In 1968 Kilian was Chef de Mission for the German Olympic Winter Team at Grenoble, and was a presidium member of the NOC of FRG for many years.

As Chef de Mission in 1968, he insisted on following the rules in the two-man bobsled event. West Germany had tied with Italy for first but Italy was ruled first on the tie-breaking rule, and Kilian would not protest the decision. He was heartily attacked in the German press and, angered and disappointed, resigned his position with the BSD.

In his active career Kilian was German Champion 1930 und 1939 with the two-man bob, 1931, 1938, 1939 and 1949 with the four-man bob, European Champion 1928 with the two-man bob and the first World Champion 1931 with the two-man bob together with Sebastian Huber, 1934 and 1935 in the four-man bob. In his three appearances at Olympic Winter Games he won the bronze medal with the four/five man bob Germany I in 1928, with the four man bob Germany I at Lake Placid in 1932, and came in seventh at Garmisch Partenkirchen in 1936. With the two man bob he finished fifth in 1932 and fifth again in 1936.