Gerd Hornberger

Gerhard "Gerd" Hornberger (born February 17, 1910 in Waldfischbach ; † September 13, 1988 ibid) was a German athlete and Olympic medalist who was successful in the German 4 x 100 meter relay in the 1930s . He was twice European champion and Olympic knight in 1936. He also took part in 100-meter individual races, but without medal success.

Life

Gerd Hornberger started for FK Pirmasens , from 1936 for Eintracht Frankfurt . He only started athletics in 1932 after he was 20 years old. But only two years later, the Palatinate competitor was in the German sprinter elite and the German championship. In 1934, he immediately came third over 100 and 200 meters. In 1935, too, he had to be satisfied with third place, before winning the German championship crown in the sprint in 1936 and also with the 4 x 100 meter relay. Until 1977 he was co-owner of the Palatinate Record over 100 meters (10.4 s), which he set in 1934. His Palatinate record over 200 meters (21.3 s) also held for several decades.

After the World War, Gerd Hornberger was one of the most active who worked on rebuilding athletics in the Palatinate. For more than 22 years he was chairman of the Athletics Association of the Palatinate. Since 1970 he has been honorary chairman. From 1948 to 1973 he was also a member of the advisory board of the German Athletics Association. In 1959 he was appointed head of the German athletics team, which, in addition to appearing in 10 cities, also played two international matches in Japan.

Hornberger was the recipient of the golden ring of honor, the highest award that the German Athletics Association has to award and that only ten living athletes can have at a time. In 1953 he was awarded the "Hans-Braun-Gedächtnispreis" as a generous and unselfish sponsor of the Association of Former Athletes. He was also honored with the Federal Cross of Merit 1st Class on February 8, 1971 for his services to sport in general .

He had professional success as the owner of a printing company in his home town.

Sporting successes

• European Championships 1934 :

Winner in the 4 x 100 meter relay together with Egon Schein , Erwin Gillmeister and Erich Borchmeyer , Gerd Hornberger as third runner;

Sixth in the 100-meter run

• Olympic Games 1936 :

Third place in the 4 x 100 meter relay together with Wilhelm Leichum , Erich Borchmeyer and Erwin Gillmeister , Gerd Hornberger as the last runner behind the USA and Italy in 41.2 s;

Eliminated in the 100-meter intermediate run

• European Championships 1938 :

Winner, together with Manfred Kersch , Karl Neckermann and Jakob Scheuring , Gerd Hornberger as second runner

• German championships :

1936 and 1938 champion, 1937 runner-up over 100 meters; 1937 champion over 200 meters; 1936 and 1937 champion and 1938 runner-up with the 4 x 100 meter relay from Eintracht Frankfurt.

Web links

• Gerd Hornberger in the database of Sports-Reference (English; archived from the original )

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Office of the Federal President