Wolfgang Hoppe

Wolfgang Hoppe (German pronunciation: [ˈhɔppə]; born 14 November 1957, Apolda, Thuringia) is a former East German decathlete, bob pilot and 36-time international medal winner who competed from the early 1980s to the late 1990s. Competing in four Winter Olympics, he won six medals with two golds (Two-man: 1984, Four-man: 1984), three silvers (Two-man: 1988, Four-man: 1988, 1992), and one bronze (1994).

Wolfgang Hoppe

Wolfgang Hoppe in 1990
Personal information
Nationality	German
Born	(1957-11-14) 14 November 1957 (age 67)[1] Apolda, East Germany[1]
Height	1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)[1]
Weight	89 kg (196 lb; 14.0 st)[1]
Sport
Country	East Germany  Germany
Sport	Bobsleigh (pilot)[1]
Event(s)	4-man, 2-man
Club	SC Turbine Erfurt (19??-1981) ASK Vorwärts Oberhof (1981–1989)[1] WSV Oberhof 05 (1989–1998)[1]
Coached by	Raimund Bethge
Retired	1998
Achievements and titles
Personal best
Medal record Representing  East Germany Representing  Germany Men's bobsleigh Olympic Games 1984 Sarajevo Two-man 1984 Sarajevo Four-man 1988 Calgary Two-man 1988 Calgary Four-man 1992 Albertville Four-man 1994 Lillehammer Four-man World Championships 1985 Cervinia Two-man 1986 Königssee Two-man 1989 Cortina d'Ampezzo Two-man 1991 Altenberg Four-man 1995 Winterberg Four-man 1997 St. Moritz Four-man 1987 St. Moritz Four-man 1983 Lake Placid Two-man 1987 St. Moritz Two-man 1989 Cortina d'Ampezzo Four-man 1990 St. Moritz Two-man 1991 Altenberg Two-man 1993 Igls Two-man 1996 Calgary Four-man World Cup Championships 1990–91 Two-man 1991–92 Combined 1991–92 Four-man 1995–96 Four-man 1986–87 Combined 1986–87 Four-man 1996–97 Four-man 1986–87 Two-man 1989–90 Combined 1990–91 Combined 1992–93 Four-man European Championships 1986 Iglis Two-man 1987 Cervinia Two-man 1987 Cervinia Four-man 1995 Altenberg Four-man 1985 St. Moritz Two-man 1985 St. Moritz Four-man 1989 Winterberg Two-man 1996 St. Moritz Four-man German Championships 1993[2] Four-man 1994[2] Four-man East German Championships 1985 Oberhof[2] Two-man 1986 Altenberg[2] Two-man 1987 Altenberg[2] Four-man 1988 Altenberg[2] Two-man 1988 Altenberg[2] Four-man Men's Athletics East German Junior Championships 1976 decathlon

At the opening ceremonies of the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, Hoppe carried the flag of Germany, who was competing as a unified nation in the Winter Olympics for the first time since the 1936 Winter Olympics in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

Hoppe also won fourteen medals at the FIBT World Championships with six golds (Two-man: 1985, 1986, 1989; Four-man: 1991, 1995, 1997), one silver (Four-man: 1987), and seven bronzes (Two-man: 1983, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993; Four-man: 1989, 1996). He also won the Bobsleigh World Cup championship in combined men's (1991–92), two-man (1990–91), and four-man (1991–92, 1995–96).

Hoppe, a former army major, retired from bobsledding after the 1997 FIBT World Championships to become coach of the German national team, coaching such athletes as Susi Erdmann, Sandra Kiriasis, Gabriele Kohlisch, and André Lange.

In October 1986, he was awarded a Star of People's Friendship in gold (second class) for his sporting success.^[3]

He is the brother of motocross racer and 37-time medal winner Heinz Hoppe [de].

See also

• Bobsleigh Olympic Medal table