East German judoka Helmut Howiller finished fifth at the 1972 München Olympics in the half-heavyweight class. He lost the repêchage final against Japanese Chiaki Ishii by O-uchi-gari. Howiller won East German titles as a half-heavyweight from 1964-67, and from 1970-72. In 1963 and 1964 he won two bronze medals in the open class at the Europeans, and a silver in 1968 in the heavyweight. His best year came in 1971, when he claimed the gold medal at the Europeans and the bronze medal at the Worlds. Howiller later became a judo coach until re-unification; thereafter he worked as a graduated sports teacher.
East Germany