Moscow 1980: Gerd WESSIG of the German Democratic Republic celebrates winning the men's high jump competition at the Games of the XXII Olympiad. Credit: Getty ImagesBorn: 16 July 1959
Birthplace: Schwerin (Germany)
Nationality: Germany
Sport: Athletics
ATTENDANCE AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES
Moscow 1980
AWARDS
Olympic medals:
Gold: 1
High Jump World Record Setter
Gerd Wessig, a 21-year-old cook from Schwerin who was 2.01m tall, was one of the most unexpected winners of the Moscow Games. Two weeks earlier he had won the East German national championship with a personal best of 2.30m. At the Olympics he improved by another six centimeters to win the gold medal and break the world record. In fact, even though the men's high jump has been contested at every Olympics since the Modern Games began in 1896, Wessig is the only male high jumper to set a world record at the Olympics.
