Karl Volkmer

In his youth, Karl Volkmer played football with FC Basel until a knee injury ended his career and was also active in handball and ice hockey. It was track and field athletics, however, that was his true passion and he joined the Basel Old Boys in 1940. He continued training while serving with the military during World War II and, in 1945, won the Swiss national championship over 800 metres. He went on to win it every year through 1950, except for 1949. He made his major international début at the 1946 European Championships, where he was eliminated in the heats of the 800 metres and placed fifth in the 4x400 metres relay with Werner Christen, Oskar Hardmeier, and the non-Olympian Werner Rugel.

Volkmer’s next stop was the 1948 London Olympics, where he was eliminated in the semifinals of the 800 metres and round one of the 4x400 metres relay, alongside Hardmeier, Walter Keller, and Max Trepp. He retired from active competition after coming in third at the trials for the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, but continued to remain active as an orienteer through 2015. By career he worked for Ciba Specialty Chemicals until his 1987 retirement.

Personal Bests: 400 – 49.6 (1944); 800 – 1:53.0 (1952).