Siegfried Herrmann

Middle- and long-distance runner Siegfried Herrmann was a member of the mixed German team in 1956 and 1964 at the Olympic Games. He did not finish his heat of the 1,500 m at Melbourne in 1956 due to an Achilles’ tendon tear and placed 11th in the 10K at Tokyo in 1964. At the European Championships Herrmann placed sixth in the 1,500 in 1958, seventh in the 5K in 1962, and was eliminated in the heats in 1966 in the 5K. Domestically he won 26 East German titles over different distances from 1952-66, adding several runner-ups. He also set seven world records, was the first German under 8 minutes in the 3,000 in 1956, and was also the first German under 3:50 (1954) and 3:45 (1955) in the 1,500. In his youth he was a very good skier in cross-country races.

His brother Hubert was a national successful middle-distance runner with three East German titles in 1953. After his active career, Siegfried Herrmann, educated as a carpenter and foreman, became an athletics coach in the former GDR. Beginning in 1976, he coached the distance runners and the race walkers in Erfurt, including the Olympic champion from 1980, Hartwig Gauder. As a coach, he was active until 2000.

Personal Bests: 1500 – 3:39.8 (1963); 10000 – 29:11.8 (1966).