Axel Thieme

Axel Thieme from SC Leipzig earned 78 international caps for East Germany between 1959 and 1968. He also played the international qualifications, when East Germany lost the first match against West Germany 4-2 in West Berlin, and then won the return match 1-0 in Jena, requiring two more matches to be played. East Germany again won in Jena 1-0, but then tied the return match 2-2, and East Germany qualified for the 1964 Tokyo Games. Thieme and his team defeated Kenya in the fifth-place match at the Tokyo Olympics, 3-0.

In 1968 East Germany again qualified for the Mexico City Olympics, with Axel Thieme also playing in that tournament. In the preliminary round during the 1968 Olympics, East and West Germany played their only official international match, with West Germany winning 3-2. East Germany finished the tournament as a disappointing eleventh, which caused East Germany to drastically reduce financial support for hockey (field).

Together with his brother Rolf Axel Thieme became a longtime field hockey coach and referee. His son Axel also became a field hockey international.