Hans Günter Winkler

Hans Günter Winkler has the finest record of any German show jumper and his international record is rivalled only by France’s Pierre Jonquères d’Oriola and Italy’s Raimondo D’Inzeo. Winkler won seven Olympic medals (five gold and both one silver and bronze), with one in the individual event, a gold in 1956. This victory became legendary: in the first round, he tore a groin muscle and had to be tied onto his mare Halla for the second round. Nevertheless, Halla made a faultless round, although Winkler screamed in pain at every obstacle, and won gold.

In 1976 Winkler was the flagbearer for West Germany at the Opening Ceremony and won a silver with the show jumping team, but that followed Olympic team golds in 1956, 1960, 1964, and 1972, and he finished his Olympic career with a team silver in 1976. He later wrote several books, organized many riding tournaments, and was the team leader of the German show jumpers in 1988 and 1992. In 2006 he was inducted into the German Sports Hall of Fame.

Winkler’s 1956 Olympic gold medal was his third consecutive international title as he won the first two World Championships in show jumping which were held in 1954 and 1955. For his sporting achievements he was elected German Sportsman of the Year in 1955 and 1956. At the European Championships Winkler won the gold medal in individual jumping in 1957 and added a silver in 1962 and bronzes in 1958, 1961, and 1969, all in the individual event. In all he competed 108 times internationally for Germany from his international début in 1952, retiring only in 1986. His greatest successes came on Halla (1945-1979), the only horse to ride to three Olympic gold medals, team and individual in 1956 and team in 1960. Winkler was also the son-in-law of Flor Isava-Fonseca, IOC member for Venezuela.