Klaus Tafelmeier

Klaus Tafelmeier was one of the leading javelin throwers in the 1980s and early 90s. He was expected to compete at the 1980 Moskva Olympics but due to the US-led boycott did not start. Four years later in Los Angeles he failed to reach the final and in Seoul 1988 he finished an unfortunate fourth. In September 1986 Tafelmeier threw 85.74 metres to record the first official world record for the new javelin.

Tafelmeier first came to prominence winning the 1977 European Junior Championships. He then also won the 1986 Europeans, placing eleventh in 1990 and 13th in 1982. At the Worlds he finished eighth in 1983, and failed to reach the finals in 1987 and 1991. In 1981, 1983, 1985 and 1987 he participated in the European Cup with his best results a third in 1983 and a second in 1987. In 1982-85, 1987 and 1991 he was (West) German Champion. He was awarded the Silver Bay Leaf in 1987 and the Sports Badge of North Rhine Westfalia in 1987. He later married middle-distance runner and non-Olympian Petra Kleinbrahm and was employed by his home club Bayer Leverkusen as a coach.

Personal Bests: JT(old) – 91.44 (1983); JT(new) – 86.64 (1987).