Lutz Dombrowski

Lutz Dombrowski was the godchild of former GDR president (1949-60) Friedrich-Wilhelm Pieck (1876-1960). Dombrowski was the top GDR long jumper in the 1980s, winning domestic titles in 1979, 1980 (indoor) and 1984, and was runner-up in 1982 and 1985, and third in 1986. In 1979 he won the European Cup, and set a European record with 8.45 prior to his Olympic gold medal in 1980, and later was 1982 European Champion. Dombrowski’s winning jump in Moscow (8.54) was the second-longest jump at the time, after Bob Beamon’s vaunted 8.90 in winning the 1968 Olympic gold medal, and also was only the second jump ever over the Imperial barrier of 28 feet. His daughter Susann later also became a long jumper and a sprinter.

After German reunification his name appeared in documents concerning the East German’s systematic doping practices, but the case was never examined any further. Dombrowski then became a Member of Parliament in the German Bundestag for the left-wing party PDS - Die Linke until it was found out that he had actively worked for the East German Stasi (State Security) for almost eight years, and he immediately withdrew from Parliament. He was educated as a machine and plant fitter, and studied metal working technologies, but later worked as a sports teacher and as a representative of the sports society in Schwäbisch Gmünd.

Personal Best: LJ – 8.54 (1980).