Helmut Recknagel

In 1957, Helmut Recknagel became the first non-Scandinavian to win at Holmenkollen in ski jumping. At the 1960 Winter Olympics, he won the ski jumping gold medal and was also the flagbearer of the German team at the opening ceremony. He also received the Holmenkollen Medal in 1960, the first German to win the award. Recknagel won the 1962 World Championship at Zakopane and was elected East German Sportsman of the Year. He also won the Four Hills Tournament in 1958, 1959 and 1961. From 1970-90 he was a member of the GDR NOC and after German reunification was a member of the German NOC (1990 – 1993). During this time he also worked as an international ski jumping judge. In East Germany Recknagel was a sports idol for his success and humility. In 2007, on his 70th birthday, he published his autobiography Eine Frage der Haltung (A Question of Posture).