German Sports Hall of Fame
Heiner Brand
Heiner Brand (born 1952), here on the left in a 1978 world championship game against East Germany, was part of the West German handball team that won the title days later. Two years earlier he had competed along with the team to finish fourth in the Olympics. Brand was the German team's coach in 2007.
Rudolf Caracciola
Rudolf Caracciola (1901-1959) started driving cars at the age of 15. He won his first race at 22 and went on to win three German and six European championships racing for Mercedes Benz in the 1920s and 30s. He set 17 world records. Caracciola donated his trophies to the Indy 500 museum.
Gottfried von Cramm
Gottfried von Cramm (1909-1976), called the "tennis baron" due to his aristocratic background, played in the Davis Cup 101 times and won 82 times playing singles and doubles. He won Wimbledon in 1932 and 1936. His 1937 Davis Cup face-off with American Don Budge -- who won -- is considered one of the greatest tennis matches of all time.
Manfred Germar
Manfred Germar (born 1935) is an Olympic medalist in track and field. He was best known for his performance in the 200-meter run, in which he became European champion in 1958 and set a world record later the same year. Germar won 200-meter races 74 times in a row in 1956. He was named West Germany's Sportsman of the Year the following year. In 1958, Germer was part of the team that set a world record in 400-meter relay. Two years earlier, he took home bronze in the discipline at the Melbourne Olympics.
Ingrid Mickler-Becker
Ingrid Mickler-Becker (born 1942) is a double Olympic gold medallist in track and field. She took home the top prize in pentathlon at the 1968 Olympics and was part of the winning West German 400-meter-relay team at the 1972 Olympics. She is a double European champion and a member of Germany's Olympic committee.
Rosi Mittermaier-Neureuther
Rosi Mittenmaier (born 1950) won two gold medals and one silver medal in the three alpine skiing races at the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria. She also won the world championship that year. Mittenmaier was the German national champion 16 times. Her success earned her the nickname "Gold Rosi."
Carl Schuhmann
Carl Schuhmann (1869-1946) won four medals in gymnastics and wrestling in the first modern Olympics, in Athens in 1896. His wrestling gold came as a surprise to many because he was only only 1.63 meters (5 feet, 3 inches) tall.
Uwe Seeler
Uwe Seeler (born 1936) started playing football for Hamburg's HSV, which was in West Germany's top league, at the age of 16. He was considered one of the world's best center forwards at the height of his soccer career.
Hans Guenter Winkler
Hans Guenter Winkler (born 1926) was an Olympic equestrian champion. He took home seven medals in six Olympic Games in the 1950s, '60s and 70s. He won the world championship in show jumping twice. Winkler is one of the most highly decorated equestrians ever.