Harald Schmid

Harald Schmid
Personal information
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight 82 kg (181 lb)

Harald Schmid (born September 29, 1957 in Hanau, Germany) is a former German track and field athlete.

Schmid was one of the best 400 metres hurdles runners in the world during his career. His duels with Edwin Moses during the late 1970s and early 1980s are unforgettable. He was the last person to beat Moses before the incredible streak of victories, many with Schmid the closest challenger.

"I would wake up at the morning, and in California we’re about nine hours ahead of Germany. I’d say to myself, ‘Harald has probably finished his workout by now, I need to get busy!’ Guys like him were my motivation."-Edwin Moses[1]

His race against Moses in Rome, 1987, is ranked as one of the races of the century. Schmid won bronze with the 4 × 400 m relay team at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal as well as an individual bronze in 400 m hurdles at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles in 1984.

In addition, he won silver in 1983 at the first World Championships in Helsinki in the 400 m hurdles and the 4 × 400 m relay team and a further bronze in the Rome World Championships in 1987.

He won gold at the European Championships 5 times (3 individual and 2 team medals) and one silver with the team. His personal best over 400 m hurdles was 47.48 s (done twice in 1982 and the race in 1987), at one point the European record and the second fastest time ever. As of 1 September 2014, his time of 47.48 secs from Rome in 1987 is the fastest third-placing run in history.

Harald Schmid has a PhD in Sports Science and was appointed to the IAAF athletes commission in 1999. He participates actively in anti-drug campaigns and encourages children's sport activities.

In July 2016, Schmid was inducted into Germany's Sports Hall of Fame.[2]

References

Awards
Preceded by
Boris Becker
Eberhard Gienger
German Sportsman of the Year
1979
1987
Succeeded by
Michael Groß
Guido Kratschmer
Sporting positions
Preceded by
Edwin Moses
Men's 400 m hurdles season's best
1982
Succeeded by
Edwin Moses
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