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Thomas Köhler

Full name: Thomas Köhler
Gender: Male
Height: 5'7" (171 cm)
Weight: 154 lbs (70 kg)
Born: June 25, 1940 in Zwickau, Sachsen, Germany
Affiliations: SC Traktor Oberwiesenthal, Oberwiesenthal (GER)
Country: GER Germany, GDR East Germany
Sport: Luge

Medals: 2 Gold, 1 Silver (3 Total)

Biography

The 1968 East German flagbearer in Grenoble, Thomas Köhler is the first luger to win an Olympic gold medal in singles (1964) and doubles (1968), with Klaus-Michael Bonsack. Köhler also won a silver medal in singles in Grenoble as well. He was World Champion in singles in 1962 and 1967, in 1967 in the doubles, and runner-up in doubles in 1965. From 1969-76 Köhler was chief coach of the East German lugers, a member of the East German NOC until German reunification, and was a department head within the Deutscher Turn- und Sportverband (DTSB). In 1984 and 1988 he was Chef de Mission for the East German Winter Olympic Team. After reunification he became marketing head of a trade chain in Berlin. His brother Michael was also a world class luger but never took part in the Olympic Games.

Results

Games Age City Sport Event Team NOC Rank Medal
1964 Winter 23 Innsbruck Luge Men's Singles Germany GER 1 Gold
1964 Winter 23 Innsbruck Luge Mixed (Men)'s Doubles Germany-2 GER AC
1968 Winter 27 Grenoble Luge Men's Singles East Germany GDR 2 Silver
1968 Winter 27 Grenoble Luge Mixed (Men)'s Doubles East Germany-1 GDR 1 Gold

Men's Singles

Event History
Games Age City Sport Team NOC Phase Unit Rank T
1964 Winter 23 Innsbruck Luge Germany GER Final Standings 1 3:26.77
1964 Winter 23 Innsbruck Luge Germany GER Run 1 1 51.27
1964 Winter 23 Innsbruck Luge Germany GER Run 1 1 51.27
1964 Winter 23 Innsbruck Luge Germany GER Run 2 2 51.53
1964 Winter 23 Innsbruck Luge Germany GER Run 3 1 51.50
1964 Winter 23 Innsbruck Luge Germany GER Run 4 2 52.47
1964 Winter 23 Innsbruck Luge Germany GER Run 4 2 52.47
1968 Winter 27 Grenoble Luge East Germany GDR Final Standings 2 2:52.66
1968 Winter 27 Grenoble Luge East Germany GDR Run 1 5 57.68
1968 Winter 27 Grenoble Luge East Germany GDR Run 2 1 57.47
1968 Winter 27 Grenoble Luge East Germany GDR Run 3 1 57.51

Mixed (Men)'s Doubles

Event History
Games Age City Sport Team NOC Partner Phase Unit Rank
1964 Winter 23 Innsbruck Luge Germany-2 GER Klaus-Michael Bonsack Final Standings AC
1964 Winter 23 Innsbruck Luge Germany-2 GER Klaus-Michael Bonsack Run 1 11
1968 Winter 27 Grenoble Luge East Germany-1 GDR Klaus-Michael Bonsack Final Standings 1
1968 Winter 27 Grenoble Luge East Germany-1 GDR Klaus-Michael Bonsack Run 1 1
1968 Winter 27 Grenoble Luge East Germany-1 GDR Klaus-Michael Bonsack Run 2 1