German bobsledder who won multiple Olympic and World Championship medals, including two Olympic golds, and is considered one of the most successful bobsledders of all time.
Meinhard Nehmer, born on January 13, 1941, is a former East German bobsledder renowned for his outstanding achievements in the sport, earning him four Olympic medals, including three golds, and four World Championship titles.
Nehmer's most notable accomplishments came at the Winter Olympics, where he won gold medals in the two-man and four-man events at the 1976 Innsbruck Games. He repeated his success in the four-man event at the 1980 Lake Placid Games, adding a bronze medal in the two-man event to his tally.
Besides his Olympic triumphs, Nehmer excelled at the FIBT World Championships, securing one gold, two silver, and one bronze medal. His impressive record spans from the 1977 Four-man event to the 1979 Four-man event.
Before becoming a bobsleigh sensation, Nehmer was an accomplished javelin thrower, with a personal best of 81.5m. He transitioned to bobsleigh at the age of 32, recruited by coach Horst Hrnlein, and went on to achieve remarkable success in just three years.
After retiring from competition, Nehmer shifted his focus to coaching. He led the United States team from 1991 to 1993, guiding them to their first bobsleigh medal at the FIBT World Championships in 24 years. He then served as the Italian national coach from 1993 to 2000, before joining the German national team as an assistant coach. During this period, he contributed to the Olympic victories of Christoph Langen and André Lange.
In recognition of his contributions to the sport, Nehmer was inducted into Germany's Sports Hall of Fame in July 2016. His incredible journey serves as an inspiration to athletes and coaches alike, cementing his status as a bobsleigh legend.
Following his coaching career, Nehmer returned to his roots, settling on the island of Rügen, where he grew up as the son of a farmer. He worked for the Volksmarine, rising to the rank of Commander (Fregattenkapitän), before being forced to retire after German reunification in 1990.
