Kurt Sakowski

Kurt Sakowski becomes East German champion in the 20 km walk in 1957

Kurt Sakowski (born December 23, 1930 in Berlin ) is a former athlete from the German Democratic Republic , who was one of the best walkers in the GDR from 1951 to 1970 .

In 1951 Sakowski took second place behind Horst Voigt in the GDR championship in the 50 km walk in 5:26:04 h , in 1952 he reached third place twice, over 50 kilometers and in the 10,000 meter track walk. In 1953 Sakowski won his first championship title in 4:59:45 h over 50 kilometers. In 1954 he finished fourth over 50 kilometers and second over 25 kilometers. In the next few years he competed in the GDR championships in 20 km walking . In 1955 he finished second behind Max Weber in 1: 38.10 hours . After a fifth place in 1956 he won 1957 in 1:34:05 h and won his second championship title. In 1960 Sakowski qualified for the all-German team and competed over 50 kilometers at the Olympic Games in Rome, but was disqualified on the way. After two third places in the GDR championships over 50 kilometers in 1961 and 1962, he finished second in 1963 behind Christoph Höhne . In 1963 there was a 35 kilometer walk at the GDR championships, in which Sakowski came second behind Burkhard Leuschke . In 1964 Sakowski competed again in the all-German team at the Olympic Games , in 4:20:31 h he reached eighth place, but was only the third best walker from the GDR behind Leuschke in fourth and Höhne in sixth. In 1966 and 1967 Sakowski was second in the GDR championships over 50 kilometers behind Peter Selzer . At the European Championships in Budapest in 1966 , Sakowski was the GDR's best walker, in 4:21:35 h he just missed a medal in fourth. Sakowski's last championship placement over 50 kilometers was a sixth place in 1970.

Kurt Sakowski started first for SC Einheit Berlin and then for the successor club TSC Berlin . With a height of 1.85 m, his competition weight was 69 kg.

Best times

• train
  • 10,000 meters: 43: 47.4 min (1956)
  • 20,000 meters: 1:32:21 h (1956)
  • 50,000 meters: 4:19:53 h (1969)
• Street
  • 20 kilometers: 1:32:11 h (1968)
  • 50 kilometers: 4:10:33 h (1969)
  • 100 kilometers: 9:29:48 h (1967)

literature

• Klaus Amrhein: Biographical manual on the history of German athletics 1898–2005 . 2 volumes. Darmstadt 2005 published on German Athletics Promotion and Project Society