Helmut Bantz

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Helmut Bantz
Born14 September 1921
Speyer, Germany
Died3 October 2004 (aged 83)
Brauweiler, Germany
Gymnastics career
DisciplineMen's artistic gymnastics
Country
represented		West Germany West Germany
ClubLTV Wuppertal; KT 43 Köln
Medal record
Representing  Germany
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place1956 MelbourneVault
Representing  West Germany
World Championships
Silver medal – second place1954 RomeVault
Silver medal – second place1954 RomeHorizontal bar
Bronze medal – third place1954 RomeParallel bars
European Championships
Gold medal – first place1955 Frankfurt am MainParallel bars
Silver medal – second place1955 Frankfurt am MainVault
Silver medal – second place1955 Frankfurt am MainRings
Bronze medal – third place1955 Frankfurt am MainAllround

Helmut Bantz (14 September 1921 – 3 October 2004) was a German gymnast and Olympic champion. He won a gold medal in the vault at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, competing for the United Team of Germany.[1]

Having fought for Germany in World War II, Bantz was captured by the British forces in 1944 and taken to England. After he had been released from the status of prisoner-of-war in 1948 he stayed in England to find a job in agriculture. A couple of months later, Bantz acted as the unofficial coach of the British men's gymnastic team during the 1948 Summer Olympics in London. Among those he coached were Frank Turner and George Weedon.[2]

He then returned to Germany and competed in all artistic gymnastics events at the 1952 and 1956 Olympics. He won two silver and one bronze medals at the 1954 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, as well as a four medals at the 1955 European Men's Artistic Gymnastics Championships. After retirement he worked as a gymnastics coach in Cologne.[1] He married Erika;[3] they had two daughters, Sabine and Susanne, and a son, Rainer. Since the 1980s he suffered from health problems, and had a heart attack in 1981, back surgery in 1984, and leg amputation due to circulatory disorders in 1994, followed by another leg amputation. He died in 2004 after a long illness.[4]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Helmut Bantz". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 2013-02-04.
  2. ^ a b Streppelhoff, R. & Peak, T.: "POW to Olympic Champion...the amazing story of Helmut Bantz", in: The Gymnast (03/2008), p. 12
  3. ^ a b Alle deutschen Europameister 1955–2005 Archived 2012-11-01 at the Wayback Machine. gymmedia.com
  4. ^ a b Streppelhoff, R. Vom Gefangenen zum Lehrmeister, in: Olympisches Feuer (2008) 4–5, pp. 82–85
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Helmut_Bantz&oldid=1306748979"
    Helmut Bantz
    Born14 September 1921
    Speyer, Germany
    Died3 October 2004 (aged 83)
    Brauweiler, Germany
    Gymnastics career
    DisciplineMen's artistic gymnastics
    Country
    represented    		West Germany West Germany
    ClubLTV Wuppertal; KT 43 Köln
    Medal record
    Representing  Germany
    Olympic Games
    Gold medal – first place1956 MelbourneVault
    Representing  West Germany
    World Championships
    Silver medal – second place1954 RomeVault
    Silver medal – second place1954 RomeHorizontal bar
    Bronze medal – third place1954 RomeParallel bars
    European Championships
    Gold medal – first place1955 Frankfurt am MainParallel bars
    Silver medal – second place1955 Frankfurt am MainVault
    Silver medal – second place1955 Frankfurt am MainRings
    Bronze medal – third place1955 Frankfurt am MainAllround

    Helmut Bantz (14 September 1921 – 3 October 2004) was a German gymnast and Olympic champion. He won a gold medal in the vault at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, competing for the United Team of Germany.[1]

    Having fought for Germany in World War II, Bantz was captured by the British forces in 1944 and taken to England. After he had been released from the status of prisoner-of-war in 1948 he stayed in England to find a job in agriculture. A couple of months later, Bantz acted as the unofficial coach of the British men's gymnastic team during the 1948 Summer Olympics in London. Among those he coached were Frank Turner and George Weedon.[2]

    He then returned to Germany and competed in all artistic gymnastics events at the 1952 and 1956 Olympics. He won two silver and one bronze medals at the 1954 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, as well as a four medals at the 1955 European Men's Artistic Gymnastics Championships. After retirement he worked as a gymnastics coach in Cologne.[1] He married Erika;[3] they had two daughters, Sabine and Susanne, and a son, Rainer. Since the 1980s he suffered from health problems, and had a heart attack in 1981, back surgery in 1984, and leg amputation due to circulatory disorders in 1994, followed by another leg amputation. He died in 2004 after a long illness.[4]

    References

    1. ^ a b c Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Helmut Bantz". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 2013-02-04.
    2. ^ a b Streppelhoff, R. & Peak, T.: "POW to Olympic Champion...the amazing story of Helmut Bantz", in: The Gymnast (03/2008), p. 12
    3. ^ a b Alle deutschen Europameister 1955–2005 Archived 2012-11-01 at the Wayback Machine. gymmedia.com
    4. ^ a b Streppelhoff, R. Vom Gefangenen zum Lehrmeister, in: Olympisches Feuer (2008) 4–5, pp. 82–85
    Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Helmut_Bantz&oldid=1306748979"