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Reiner Klimke
Dr Reiner Klimke (14 January 1936 – 17 August 1999) was a German equestrian, who won six gold and two bronze medals in dressage at the Summer Olympics — a record for equestrian events. He appeared in six Olympic Games from 1960 to 1988 (excluding 1980).
Klimke studied Harry Boldt and Gustaf Rau.
He won team gold in 1964, 1968 (both aboard Dux), 1976 (riding Mehmed), 1984 and 1988 (both aboard Ahlerich), and the individual gold in 1984 on Ahlerich.
His two bronze medals came in the individual event in 1968 and 1976. Klimke also had a fine record at the World Championships, winning six gold medals (two individual [1974 aboard Mehmed, 1982 aboard Ahlerich] and four team [1966, 1974, 1982, 1986]).
At the European Championships, he was the individual champion in 1967, 1973, and 1985 and rode on seven winning West German teams (1965, 1973, 1983, 1985, and others) . Klimke also competed in eventing early in his career. He was a member of the winning West German three-day event team at the 1959 European Championships, and finished 18th in individual eventing at the 1960 Summer Olympics, making him the best German combination. He also won a Grand Prix show jumping competition in Berlin.
Reiner Klimke was the son of a psychologist and a neurologist. With his wife, Ruth (also a top show jumping and dressage rider), he had 3 children: Ingrid, Rolf, and Michael. His daughter Ingrid Klimke competes successfully at the international level in eventing and dressage and won Gold at the 2008 Summer Olympics, twenty years after her father`s last Olympic Gold. His son Michael also competes at the Grand Prix level in dressage.
Klimke not only rode and trained, but also ran a law firm and served on several boards, including the FEI Dressage Committee. Klimke died at age 63 in Münster, his place of birth, due to a heart attack.
Klimke studied Harry Boldt and Gustaf Rau.
He won team gold in 1964, 1968 (both aboard Dux), 1976 (riding Mehmed), 1984 and 1988 (both aboard Ahlerich), and the individual gold in 1984 on Ahlerich.
His two bronze medals came in the individual event in 1968 and 1976. Klimke also had a fine record at the World Championships, winning six gold medals (two individual [1974 aboard Mehmed, 1982 aboard Ahlerich] and four team [1966, 1974, 1982, 1986]).
At the European Championships, he was the individual champion in 1967, 1973, and 1985 and rode on seven winning West German teams (1965, 1973, 1983, 1985, and others) . Klimke also competed in eventing early in his career. He was a member of the winning West German three-day event team at the 1959 European Championships, and finished 18th in individual eventing at the 1960 Summer Olympics, making him the best German combination. He also won a Grand Prix show jumping competition in Berlin.
Reiner Klimke was the son of a psychologist and a neurologist. With his wife, Ruth (also a top show jumping and dressage rider), he had 3 children: Ingrid, Rolf, and Michael. His daughter Ingrid Klimke competes successfully at the international level in eventing and dressage and won Gold at the 2008 Summer Olympics, twenty years after her father`s last Olympic Gold. His son Michael also competes at the Grand Prix level in dressage.
Klimke not only rode and trained, but also ran a law firm and served on several boards, including the FEI Dressage Committee. Klimke died at age 63 in Münster, his place of birth, due to a heart attack.
