- Reiner Klimke
Dr Reiner Klimke (
January 14 ,1936 –August 17 ,1999 ) was a German equestrian, who won six gold and two bronzemedal s indressage at theSummer Olympics — a record for equestrian events.Equestrian career
Kilmke studied
Harry Boldt and Gustaf Rau.He won team gold in 1964, 1968 (both aboard Dux), 1976 (riding Mehmed), 1984 and 1988 (both aboard
Ahlerich ), and the individual gold in 1984 on Ahlerich.His two bronze medals came in the individual event in 1968 and 1976. Klimke also had a fine record at the World Championships, winning six gold medals (two individual [1974 aboard Mehmed, 1982 aboard Ahlerich] and four team [1966, 1974, 1982, 1986] ).
At the European Championships, he was the individual champion in 1967, 1973, and 1985 and rode on seven winning West German teams (1965, 1973, 1983, 1985, and others) . Klimke also competed in
eventing early in his career. He was a member of the winning West German three-day event team at the 1959 European Championships, and finished 18th in individual eventing at the1960 Summer Olympics , making him the best German combination. He also won a Grand Prixshow jumping competition in Berlin.Personal life
Reiner Klimke was the son of a psychologist and a neurologist. With his wife, Ruth (also a top show jumping and dressage rider), he had 3 children: daughter
Ingrid Klimke , who competes successfully at the international level ineventing anddressage , as well as two sons, Rolf and Michael (the latter who also competes at the Grand Prix level in dressage). Klimke not only rode and trained, but also ran a law firm and served on several boards, including theFEI Dressage Committee. Klimke died at age 63 inMünster , his place of birth, due to aheart attack .References
* [http://www.eurodressage.com/news/focus/foc_klimke.html Eurodressage article on Klimke]
External links
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8T3AcvnEuMw Video of performance given by Klimke at the 1987 National Horse Show in New York]
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