Legend talk in Schwerin: Experience Olympic champion Cierpinski up close!

Legend talk in Schwerin: Experience Olympic champion Cierpinski up close!

On July 24th at 7 p.m. there will be a very special legend talk in the Filmpalast Capitol in Schwerin. The two-time Olympic marathon champion, Waldemar Cierpinski, will be the focus. Born on August 3, 1950, the Neugattersleben native entered the sport's history books by winning gold medals in Montreal in 1976 and Moscow in 1980. This makes him one of the few athletes to have won marathon gold twice, along with greats like Abebe Bikila and Eliud Kipchoge. Nordkurier reports that Olympic handball champion Wieland Schmidt will also be present to chat with Cierpinski about his successes and experiences.

The event in Schwerin promises not only exciting conversations, but also the opportunity to become part of this legendary encounter. Tickets are only available at the Capitol and advance sales are already underway. For men with the name Waldemar who were born in 1980 or 1981, there is even a special raffle of three times two tickets. Further information about the raffle is available online, where interested parties can register.

The path to legend

Cierpinski has not only won two Olympic gold medals in his career, but can also look back on a number of other successes. In 1983 he won bronze at the World Championships in Helsinki and secured five GDR championship titles. With a height of 1.70 meters and a competition weight of 59 kg, he always competed in his races with a mixture of different running speeds and long runs. This special training method may have contributed not least to his impressive achievements. The Wikipedia also mentions that Cierpinski was the flag bearer of the GDR team at the closing ceremony of the 1980 Olympic Games.

His life's work in sport was recognized with the GRR Award in 2020, showing that his influence extends far beyond the running tracks. He has been running a sporting goods store in Halle since 1990 and has opened additional branches in Quedlinburg and Köthen. The former marathon runner remains loyal to the world of sports, passing on his experiences and knowledge to the next generation as a trainer.

Marathon – Part of the Olympic Games

The marathon has been an integral part of the Summer Games since the first Olympics in 1896. The official distance of 42.195 kilometers was only set in 1921. HDSports reports that Cierpinski is the only athlete, alongside Bikila and Kipchoge, to win this prestigious title twice. These achievements demonstrate not only personal ability, but also the change and development of the marathon over the years.

Cierpinski not only made history for himself, but also for the reputation of marathon running and athletics in Germany. We can only hope that many fans and sports enthusiasts find their way to the Capitol on July 24th to experience this legend in person and be inspired by his stories.