Karl Fleschen

West German middle and long distance runner Karl Fleschen failed to come through the heats of the 1500 metres at the 1976 Montréal Olympics and was also nominated for the 1980 Moscow Games. Due to the US-led Western boycott, however, he did not take part. Fleschen placed sixth in the 5K at the 1977 World Cup, took part in the 1978 European Championships over 1500 and 5000 m, and placed third over 1500 m and sixth over 5000 m at the 1977 European Cup, as well as third over 10K in 1981. At the European Indoor Championships he won the 3000 gold medal in 1977, adding bronze in 1984. Domestically Fleschen collected 18 national titles in different events. In 1977 he was part of the world record relay over 4×1500 m (14:38,8 min), with Thomas Wessinghage, and non-Olympians Harald Hudak and Michael Lederer. He was married to non-Olympian middle distance and cross runner Dorothee Bormann, and was educated as a mechanical engineer, later working in Leverkusen.

Personal Best: 1500 – 3:36.2 (1977).