Karl Leban

Austrian Karl Leban participated in 1936 both at the Winter Games in Garmisch-Partenkirchen as a speed skater and the Summer Games in Berlin as a modern pentathlete, placing 26th in Berlin, and 6th in the 500 and 12th in the 1500 metres at Garmisch. The same year he also participated in the Speed Skating World Championships and placed 36th, also finishing 4th and 12th at the 1932 and 1937 European Championships.

Domestically Leban won several Austrian athletics titles as follows: 1930 – 5K, 1932 – 4x1,500, 1934 – 5K, and 1937 – 1,500 m and 4x1,500. After the Nazi German “Anschluss” he claimed three third places at the German 1940 Speed Skating Championships. In 1941 Leban was killed in action during World War II when his plane crashed down near Zagnitkiv at the Russian front. He was buried in the cemetery at Kamenka near Zagnitkiv.

Personal Bests: 500 – 44.3 (1937); 1500 – 2:21.5 (1933); 5000 – 8:43.2 (1933); 10000 – 18:45.2 (1932).