The world of sport is mourning certainly one of its icons: Manfred Wolke, the coach of boxing stars Henry Maske and Axel Schulz, has died on the age of 81. Manfred Wolke leaves behind his spouse Brigitte and his three kids.
Because the “Welt” and the “Radiostation Oderwelle” discovered from household circles, the previous Olympic champion died final Wednesday (Might 29) in a nursing house in his hometown of Frankfurt/Oder after an extended sickness.
All the time the Olympics
Manfred Wolke’s story is exclusive within the German boxing panorama: in 1968 he fought his technique to Olympic gold as a welterweight in Mexico Metropolis.
Years later, the dream of the Olympic Video games got here true a second and even a 3rd time: As a coach, he introduced featherweight Rudi Fink (1980 in Moscow) and middleweight Henry Maske (1988 in Seoul) to the highest of the Olympic Video games.
He hated your insanity and your complacency. His motto: Solely those that don’t need to obtain something are glad.
From struggle orphans to the highest athlete
Manfred Wolke was born in Babelsberg in 1943. Because the youngest of ten siblings, he grew up and not using a father.
His ardour for sports activities didn’t begin together with his fists, however on the sector: as a young person, he tried his hand at soccer earlier than taking on boxing. Profession change with materials success.
From 1967 to 1971 he was GDR champion and second in 1967 and 1971. In 1968, Manfred Wolke gained his novice profession with the gold medal on the Olympic Video games.
On the 1972 Olympic Video games in Munich he was the usual bearer of the GDR delegation on the opening ceremony. Shortly afterwards, Manfred Wolke ended his energetic boxing profession. Stability sheet: 258 fights, 236 victories.
From sports activities icon to coaching icon
Even after his boxing profession, he didn’t climb down the ladder of success: As a coach, Manfred Wolke established the most effective athletes such because the brothers Torsten and Rüdiger Might in addition to Rudi Fink.
After the autumn of the Wall, Manfred Wolke, together with Wilfried Sauerland, was thought of the daddy of the German boxing increase. Henry Maske and Axel Schulz achieved world fame within the sport below his management.