IAAF Logo (© c)
The German athletics community has suffered three very sad losses in the last month, with the deaths of Günter Dohrow, Emmerich Götze, and ‘Fritz’ Steinmetz.
Günter DOHROW (Germany) (b. 15 Aug 1927) died on June 27 in Berlin at the age of 80. At 1500m he set German records of 3:46.8 in 1952 and 3:42.8 in 1956 and was 8th at the 1954 Europeans. He went out in the heats of both 800m and 1500m at the 1952 and 1956 Olympic Games and was German champion at 800m in 1953 and at 1500m in 1956. Other pbs: 400m 48.7 (1952), 800m 1:48.2 (1956), 1000m 2:22.7 (1957), 1M 4:07.8 (1952), 2000m 5:16.0 (1954, German record), 3000m 8:21.2 (1962), 5000m 14:37.2 (1956).
Friedrich Paul ‘Fritz’ STEINMETZ (Germany) (b. 10 May 1917) died on July 21 in his hometown Kassel at the age of 91. A former middle distance runner, he worked as an athletics journalist, statistician and official in various positions, becoming a leading figure in German athletics in the post-War era, especially as managing director of the DLV. He worked for Germany’s athletics magazine ,Leichtathletik and was general secretary of the ATFS 1972-80 and compiled most authoritative books giving the results of all German Championships.
Emmerich GÖTZE (Germany) (b. 25 Jan 1938) died of a brain haemorrhage on July 5. He was a major expert on race walking and a member of the ATFS.
Peter Matthews writes: I was so saddened to hear of “Emmo’s” death. He provided me and other statisticians worldwide with regular walks lists throughout the year until his heart attack and following stroke two years ago and his superb lists were the basis of those in the International Athletics Annual for several years. I met him a few years back in his native Berlin, and It was particularly sad to hear of his death as he had fully recovered in recent months and was keen to return to his statistical activities.
IAAF
With grateful thanks to Jörg Wenig, and Peter Matthews and Mel Watman of Athletics International