- Martin Lauer
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Olympic medal record Men’s Athletics Competitor for Germany
Gold 1960 Rome 4x100m relay Karl Martin Lauer (born 2 January 1937) is a former West German athlete, winner of gold medal in 4x100 m relay at the 1960 Summer Olympics.
Born in Cologne, Lauer was a German champion in 110 m hurdles from 1956 to 1960 and in decathlon in 1956.
At the 1956 Summer Olympics, Lauer finished fourth in 110 m hurdles and was fifth in decathlon. At the 1958 European Championships, Lauer won the gold in 110 m hurdles. In 1958 Lauer also ran his first world record, being a member of German's 4x100 m relay team, which ran 39.5. In 1959, Lauer ran his second world record (13.2), this time in his main event of 110 m hurdles. At the end of the year he was named Athlete of the Year by the sportsmagazine Track & Field News, the first ever of the annual election.
At the Rome Olympics Lauer was again fourth in 110 m hurdles and ran the anchoring leg in the German's 4x100 m relay team. In the final the Germans finished second behind the United States, but 15 minutes after the final it was announced that the USA had been disqualified for an incorrect exchange. Germany's time, 39.5 equalled their own world record.
After the Olympics Lauer was forced to retire from sports due the injury. He worked as Director for Triumph Adler for many years.
Between 1962 and 1968 he published numerous records, singing in the country-style, and sold about 9 million copies.
References
Awards Preceded by
Fritz Thiedemann
German Sportsman of the Year
1959Succeeded by
Georg Thoma
Preceded by
—Track & Field Athlete of the Year
1959Succeeded by
Rafer Johnson
Olympic Champions in Men's 4×100 m Relay 1912 • 1920 • 1924 • 1928 • 1932 • 1936 • 1948 • 1952 • 1956 • 1960 • 1964 • 1968 • 1972 • 1976 • 1980 • 1984 • 1988 • 1992 • 1996 • 2000 • 2004 • 2008European Champions in Men's 110 m Hurdles 1934: József Kovács (HUN) • 1938: Don Finlay (GBR) • 1946: Håkan Lidman (SWE) • 1950: André-Jacques Marie (FRA) • 1954: Yevgeniy Bulanchik (URS) • 1958: Martin Lauer (FRG) • 1962: Anatoly Mikhailov (URS) • 1966: Eddy Ottoz (ITA) • 1969: Eddy Ottoz (ITA) • 1971: Frank Siebeck (GDR) • 1974: Guy Drut (FRA) • 1978: Thomas Munkelt (GDR) • 1982: Thomas Munkelt (GDR) • 1986: Stéphane Caristan (FRA) • 1990: Colin Jackson (GBR) • 1994: Colin Jackson (GBR) • 1998: Colin Jackson (GBR) • 2002: Colin Jackson (GBR) • 2006: Staņislavs Olijars (LAT) • 2010: Andy Turner (GBR)
Categories:- 1937 births
- Living people
- People from Cologne
- West German athletes
- Athletes (track and field) at the 1956 Summer Olympics
- Athletes (track and field) at the 1960 Summer Olympics
- Olympic athletes of the United Team of Germany
- Olympic gold medalists for the United Team of Germany
- Olympic medalists in athletics (track and field)
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