THE LEGENDARY EQUESTRIAN STAR HANS GÜNTER WINKLER DEAD AT THE AGE OF 91

The German rider Hans Günter Winkler has  passed away following a long illnes  yesterday at the age of 91 in Warendorf.

The list of his successes is impressive, as he is the show jumping rider who won most of all time.

In the 1950s and 1960s he won five Olympic gold medals, one Olympic silver medal and one Olympic bronze medal, plus, two World Championships gold medals, and  one gold medal, one silver medal and three bronze medals at the European Championships.

The horse with wich he won more, was the female Halla, first trained as a steeplechaser and then as an eventer but as she was considered very difficult she changed riders several times until in 1951 she was taken over by the then rising star Winkler.

With her he create an amazing partenship as clearly demonstrated in Stockholm in 1956 during the Olympic equestrian events where Winkler pulled a muscle during the second last course. Despite the pain Winkler rode the last round and with enormous difficulties he manage to stay in the saddle, Halla sensed the situation and helped him jumping clear winning the individual and team Gold medals.

The club IJRC extends its condolences to Hans Günter Winkler's family and friends.

Image©F.Petroni:

The IJRC Director Eleonora Ottaviani and the EEF President Hanfried Haring with Hans Günter Winkler