Cees Koch

Cees Koch started athletics with the oldest Dutch athletics club, Pro Patria, at the age of 16 and within a few years was a dominant factor in discus throw and shot put at the Dutch National Championships, winning seven shot put titles (1955-1956 and 1958-1962) and nine discus throw titles (1956, 1958-62, 1964-65, 1970). His national record of 58.05 metres in the discus, set on 20 May 1962, stood for more than 20 years, when it finally was broken by Erik de Bruin in 1984.

On an international level Koch won a silver medal at the 1962 European Championships in Belgrade, only to be beaten by gold medal winner Vladimir Trusenyov. At the Olympic Games Koch was less successful. In 1960 he reached the final, but then produced only one valid throw, which resulted in a 22nd and last place in the final. At Tokyo in 1964, he finished 17th in qualifying and did not reach the final.

Personal Best: DT – 58.05 (1962).