Ewald Mertens
Biographical information
| Roles | Competed in Olympic Games |
|---|---|
| Sex | Male |
| Full name | Ewald Walter Gottfried•Mertens |
| Used name | Ewald•Mertens |
| Born | 24 September 1909 in Tangermünde, Sachsen-Anhalt (GER) |
| Died | 7 February 1965 in Ost-Berlin (East Berlin), Berlin (GER) |
| Measurements | 169 cm / 60 kg |
| Affiliations | KTV Wittenberg, Lutherstadt Wittenberg (GER) |
| NOC |  Germany |
Biography
Ewald Mertens, an 800 runner, was eliminated in the semifinals at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. He was twice German Champion with the 4x1,500 relay, in 1936-37. He later became a successful coach in Halle and Erfurt in former GDR.
From 1957 Mertens was district coach for the Thuringian Athletic Association and then head coach at SC Turbine Erfurt. Among his pupils were Ulla Donath, Manfred Matuschewski, Jürgen May, and Siegfried Herrmann. Since the start of the East German athletics national team he was the middle-distance coach until his death, including at the 1956 and 1960 Olympics. In his youth he was educated as a shoemaker by his father.
Personal Best: 800 – 1:52.8 (1937).
Results
| Games | Discipline (Sport) / Event | NOC / Team | Pos | Medal | As | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1936 Summer Olympics | Athletics | GER |
Ewald Mertens | |||
| 800 metres, Men (Olympic) | 5 h2 r2/3 |