Bernd Kannenberg

Bernd Kannenberg (20 August 1942 – 13 January 2021) was a West German race walker who won the 50 km event at the 1972 Summer Olympics. He also competed in the 20 km at the 1972 and 1976 Games, but failed to finish. In 1972 Kannenberg became the first German athlete to walk 50 km within four hours; the same year he was awarded the Silbernes Lorbeerblatt. During his career he set five world records, and won six outdoor and four indoor West German titles.[1]

Bernd Kannenberg

Bernd Kannenberg in 1972
Personal information
Born	(1942-08-20)August 20, 1942 Königsberg, East Prussia, Nazi Germany
Died	January 13, 2021(2021-01-13) (aged 78) Münster, Germany
Height	1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight	75 kg (165 lb)
Sport
Sport	Athletics
Event(s)	Race walking
Club	TV 1860 Fürth LAC Quelle Fürth
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	20 km – 1:24:45 (1974) 50 km – 3:52:45 (1972)
Medal record Representing  West Germany Olympic Games 1972 Munich 50 km walk European Championships 1974 Rome 20 km walk

Kannenberg was a professional soldier and trained at the sports school of the German Bundeswehr at Warendorf. After retiring from competitions, he coached the German race walking team.[1]

Kannenberg was born in Koenigsberg (Eastern Prussia, from 1945, Kaliningrad). With his grandmother and cousin he was aboard the evacuation ship "Wilhelm Gustloff", when it was torpedoed by a Russian submarine. He and his cousin were among the est 9% survivors, while his grandmother died. In 1955, he emigrated with his family from Eastern Germany to West Germany.[2]