Walter Rennschuh

Walter Rennschuh (born August 1, 1918 in Berlin ; † November 30, 2012 in Würselen ) was a German athlete who was a starter for the DLC Aachen in the senior classes of multiple German champions, European champions and world champions in the athletic disciplines sprint , long jump , shot put , Discus and javelin throw .

Career and Achievements

After his release from captivity Walter Rennschuh came to Aachen to this architecture to study. In 1950, the sports-loving student joined the DLC Aachen in order to have the necessary structures available for his hobby, athletics. This was his basis for an incomparable sports career. Since Walter Rennschuh was already over 30 years old at the time, he could only start in the senior classes that are common in athletics and are divided into five-year groups. As an extremely accomplished technician and sprinter type, he committed himself to the technical disciplines and the short running routes that he completed in the form of individual and relay competitions .

Among other things, his greatest successes were:

• World champion 1979 in Hanover with the 4 × 100 m relay
• World Champion 1991 in Turku (Finland) with the 4 × 100 m relay
• World champion 1993 in Miyazaki (Japan) over 100, 200 m and with the 4 × 100 m relay
• World Champion 2001 in Brisbane (Australia) with the 4 × 100 and 4 × 400 m relay
• European champion in 1990 in Budapest (Hungary) in the javelin throw
• German champion in 1989 in Scheeßel in the long jump

A total of 15 gold, 10 silver and 7 bronze medals from international and German competitions plus an enormous number of North Rhine and district championship titles as well as new top performances in the individual age groups in his special discipline round off the image of an athlete who has been exceptionally successful over many decades. He was not spared from setbacks. In 1985 he was hit by a motorcycle as a pedestrian in Rome and seriously injured. With several broken bones, he had to sit out for months, but thanks to his enormous will, he was soon able to return to his old performance.

In addition, he was active throughout his sporting career as a sports official, primarily as a referee . The high point of this "sideline" was his assignment as one of four judges from Aachen at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich . But tasks as a junior coach or as a mediator for the North Rhine Athletics Association are a matter of course for him, who is affectionately known by his friends as "Mister Spikes".

Honors

Walter was named a Rennschuh for his exceptional sporting achievements

• 1979 appointed and received honorary member of the DLC Aachen
• 1982 from the city of Aachen the "Aachener Karlssiegel", a prize for deserving Aachen citizens, as well
• 1992 the Federal Cross of Merit .

Web links

• Walter Rennschuh's obituary commemorates Aachen on December 8, 2012
• Excerpt from the list of the best of the Athletics Association of Aachen District from 2003

Individual evidence

1. ^ Walter Rennschuh obituary