Wolfgang Nordwig (born 27 August 1943) is a former East Germanpole vaulter. He competed in the 1968 and 1972 Olympics and won a bronze and a gold medal, respectively, clearing 5.50 m in 1972.[1]
Nordwig won a bronze in the pole vault at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. He was a member of the East German team, the first time East and West Germany had sent separate teams to the Olympics. In the contest, Nordwig, the American Bob Seagren and the West-German Claus Schiprowski all cleared at 5.40 m, Seagren and Schiprowski on their second attempts and Nordwig on his third. All missed at 5.45 m. Seagren was the gold medal winner because he had had fewer misses at lower heights than Schiprowski.[3]
Nordwig was Olympic champion at the pole vault at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Nordwig's keenest rivals for the title the Americans Bob Seagren, Steve Smith and Jan Johnson and the Swede Kjell Isaksson were amongst those vaulters banned by the world governing body the IAAF from competing with the lighter poles they had been using all season. An initial ban in July had been reversed on 27 August, but on the eve of the competition, 30 August, the IAAF reimposed their ban claiming the poles were new equipment and therefore invalid. Seagren, the defending champion, finished second; Johnson third; and Smith and Isaksson did not even qualify for the final.[4][5] Nordwig had never preferred the new pole so was unaffected.[6]
In the competition itself, Johnson was eliminated at 5.40 m with Nordwig clearing on his second attempt and Seagren on his third. Nordwig then cleared 5.45 m with Seagren unable to match him. Nordwig then underlined his triumph by clearing 5.50 m for a new Olympic record and his personal best.[5]
Nordwig won five European titles: three outdoors (1966, 1969 and 1971) and two indoors (1971 and 1972). Domestically he won the East German title outdoors in 1965-72 and indoors in 1964-66, and 1969-72.[1] During his career he set two world records.[7] The first occasion was on 17 June 1970 in Berlin, Germany when he cleared 5.45 m (17 ft 10.6 in). The second was on 3 September 1970 in Turin, Italy, when he broke his own world record with a jump of 5.46 m (17 ft 11.0 in). In 1972 he became East German Sportsman of the Year and retired from competitions.[1]
World rankingsedit
Nordwig was voted by the experts at Track and Field News to be ranked among the best in the world (the best in 1970 and 1971) in the pole vault in the period from 1965 to 1972.[8]
Pole Vault
Year
World rank
1965
2nd
1966
3rd
1967
6th
1968
2nd
1969
3rd
1970
1st
1971
1st
1972
3rd
Personal lifeedit
Nordwig had a degree in physics and defended a PhD in economics. He worked for VEB Carl Zeiss Jena eventually becoming a director of research and development. Later, he was managing director of a travel company in Berlin.[9] His brothers Reinhard and Hans-Jürgen competed nationally in middle-distance running.[1]
Referencesedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wolfgang Nordwig.
wolfgang, nordwig, born, august, 1943, former, east, german, pole, vaulter, competed, 1968, 1972, olympics, bronze, gold, medal, respectively, clearing, 1972, nordwig, 1965personal, informationborn27, august, 1943, 1943, chemnitz, saxonyheight184, weight63, sp. Wolfgang Nordwig born 27 August 1943 is a former East German pole vaulter He competed in the 1968 and 1972 Olympics and won a bronze and a gold medal respectively clearing 5 50 m in 1972 1 Wolfgang NordwigNordwig in 1965Personal informationBorn27 August 1943 1943 08 27 age 80 Chemnitz SaxonyHeight184 cm 6 ft 0 in Weight63 kg 139 lb SportSportAthleticsEventPole vaultClubTus JenaAchievements and titlesPersonal best5 50 m 1972 1 2 Medal record Representing East GermanyOlympic Games1968 Mexico City Pole vault1972 Munich Pole vaultEuropean championships1966 Budapest Pole vault1969 Athens Pole vault1971 Helsinki Pole vaultEuropean Athletics Indoor Championships1971 Sofia Pole vault1972 Grenoble Pole vaultUniversiade1970 Turin Pole vault Contents 1 Athletic career 1 1 World rankings 2 Personal life 3 References 4 External linksAthletic career edit nbsp Nordwig on a stamp of Umm al QuwainNordwig won a bronze in the pole vault at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics He was a member of the East German team the first time East and West Germany had sent separate teams to the Olympics In the contest Nordwig the American Bob Seagren and the West German Claus Schiprowski all cleared at 5 40 m Seagren and Schiprowski on their second attempts and Nordwig on his third All missed at 5 45 m Seagren was the gold medal winner because he had had fewer misses at lower heights than Schiprowski 3 Nordwig was Olympic champion at the pole vault at the 1972 Munich Olympics Nordwig s keenest rivals for the title the Americans Bob Seagren Steve Smith and Jan Johnson and the Swede Kjell Isaksson were amongst those vaulters banned by the world governing body the IAAF from competing with the lighter poles they had been using all season An initial ban in July had been reversed on 27 August but on the eve of the competition 30 August the IAAF reimposed their ban claiming the poles were new equipment and therefore invalid Seagren the defending champion finished second Johnson third and Smith and Isaksson did not even qualify for the final 4 5 Nordwig had never preferred the new pole so was unaffected 6 In the competition itself Johnson was eliminated at 5 40 m with Nordwig clearing on his second attempt and Seagren on his third Nordwig then cleared 5 45 m with Seagren unable to match him Nordwig then underlined his triumph by clearing 5 50 m for a new Olympic record and his personal best 5 Nordwig won five European titles three outdoors 1966 1969 and 1971 and two indoors 1971 and 1972 Domestically he won the East German title outdoors in 1965 72 and indoors in 1964 66 and 1969 72 1 During his career he set two world records 7 The first occasion was on 17 June 1970 in Berlin Germany when he cleared 5 45 m 17 ft 10 6 in The second was on 3 September 1970 in Turin Italy when he broke his own world record with a jump of 5 46 m 17 ft 11 0 in In 1972 he became East German Sportsman of the Year and retired from competitions 1 World rankings edit Nordwig was voted by the experts at Track and Field News to be ranked among the best in the world the best in 1970 and 1971 in the pole vault in the period from 1965 to 1972 8 Pole Vault Year World rank1965 2nd1966 3rd1967 6th1968 2nd1969 3rd1970 1st1971 1st1972 3rdPersonal life editNordwig had a degree in physics and defended a PhD in economics He worked for VEB Carl Zeiss Jena eventually becoming a director of research and development Later he was managing director of a travel company in Berlin 9 His brothers Reinhard and Hans Jurgen competed nationally in middle distance running 1 References edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wolfgang Nordwig a b c d e Wolfgang Nordwig Sports Reference Wolfgang Nordwig trackfield brinkster net Athletics at the 1968 Ciudad de Mexico Summer Games Men s Pole Vault sports reference com Steve Breazeale 2 August 2012 Not Your Typical Olympic Story San Clemente Times a b Mike Rosenbaum Americans Pole Axed Olympic Pole Vault Controversy trackandfield about com Retrieved 13 March 2013 Wolfgang Nordwig Athletics olympic org Retrieved 28 March 2013 Progression of IAAF World Records 2011 Edition Editor Imre Matrahazi IAAF Athletics p 163 World Rankings Index Men s pole vault PDF Track and Field News Wolfgang Nordwig uni protokolle de German External links edithttps www youtube com watch v s6pRZCvAPlc The Highest Arthur PennRecordsPreceded by nbsp John Pennel Men s Pole Vault World Record Holder17 June 1970 24 October 1970 Succeeded by nbsp Christos PapanikolaouAwardsPreceded by nbsp Roland Matthes East German Sportsman of the Year1972 Succeeded by nbsp Roland Matthes Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wolfgang Nordwig amp oldid 1195109179, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,