Gerd Wessig

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameGerd•Wessig
Used nameGerd•Wessig
Born16 July 1959 in Lübz, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (GER)
Measurements200 cm / 82 kg
AffiliationsSchweriner SC, Schwerin (GER)
NOC East Germany
Medals OG
Gold 1
Silver 0
Bronze 0
Total 1

Biography

Gerd Wessig had his greatest sports moment winning the high jump gold medal at the 1980 Moskva Olympics with a world record of 2.36 metres. At the 1989 World Cup he came in fourth, and he was seventh at the 1986 European Championships. In 1985 he placed second at the European Cup, finishing third in 1987 and fourth in 1989. Wessig won East German titles in 1980, 1984-86, and 1988-89, adding indoor titles in 1980, 1984-85, and 1987. During his sports career he also tried decathlon with limited success. After German reunification his name was found in the documents concerning systematic doping abuse in the former GDR.

Wessig was married to non-Olympian long jumper Christine Schima, and their son Daniel Wessig became a youth national for Germany. By profession, Wessig trained as a cook, but after reunification became a sales manager for a sports article producing company.

Personal Best: HJ – 2.36 (1980).

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1980 Summer Olympics Athletics GDR Gerd Wessig
High Jump, Men (Olympic) 1 Gold