Heinz Fütterer

Heinz Fütterer

Heinz Fütterer in 1956
Medal record
Men's Athletics
Olympic Games
Representing  Germany
Bronze medal – third place 1956 Melbourne 4x100 metre relay
European Championships
Representing  West Germany
Gold medal – first place 1954 Bern 100 metres
Gold medal – first place 1954 Bern 200 metres

Heinrich Ludwig Fütterer (German pronunciation: [haɪnts ˈfʏtəʁɐ] ; 14 October 1931 – 10 February 2019[1]) was a German athlete, who mainly competed in sprint events.

Early life

[edit]

He was born in Illingen. [citation needed]

Fütterer (left) running in a 4 × 100 metres relay race with Manfred Steinbach (right) in 1956

Fütterer competed for the United Team of Germany in the 1956 Summer Olympics held in Melbourne, Australia, where he won the bronze medal in the 4 × 100 metre relay with his teammates Lothar Knörzer, Leonhard Pohl and Manfred Germar but didn't reach the 100 m final.

In 1954 he won two gold medals at the European Championships in Bern, Switzerland, in 1958 he won the relay with Germany.

His nickname was "weißer Blitz" ("white lightning").[2]

His best time in the 100 meters was 10.2 seconds, equalling the world record held by Jesse Owens and a number of other sprinters. He ran the race in Japan (1954). His best in the 200 meters was 20.8 seconds. He was part of the German world record 4 × 100 m relay of 1958.

Fütterer died in Illingen on 10 February 2019 at the age of 87.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ ""Der weiße Blitz" ist tot: Heinz Fütterer mit 87 gestorben". Stern.de. 10 February 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
  2. ^ ""Der weiße Blitz" ist tot: Heinz Fütterer mit 87 gestorben". Stern.de. 10 February 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2019.

Further reading

[edit]
  • Alfons Bitterwolf, Gustav Bitterwolf: Heinz Fütterer, der weiße Blitz. Biografie. Bitterwolf, Illingen/Rastatt 1955, ASIN B0000BGL0Q
  • Michael Dittrich, Daniel Merkel: Der "Weiße Blitz" – Das Leben des Heinz Fütterer. Verlag Die Werkstatt, Göttingen 2006, ISBN 3-89533-547-9


Awards
Preceded by German Sportsman of the Year
1954
Succeeded by


Records
Preceded by European Record Holder Men's 100m
31 October 1954 – 30 July 1957
Succeeded by
Preceded by European Record Holder Men's 200m
29 August 1954 – 14 September 1957
Succeeded by