Gert Potgieter (athlete)
Encyclopedia
Gert Potgieter {Born on April 16, 1937 in Pietermaritzburg
, KwaZulu-Natal
, South Africa
} is a retired South Africa
n Track and field athletics competitor, primarily known for the 400 metre and 440 yard hurdles.
He did participate in the 1956 Summer Olympics
at the age of 19 and was in third position until he fell over the final hurdle, ultimately finishing sixth. At 23 he, had achieved the world's best time in the event 49.3 (on a single turn, oversized track which disqualified any official world record). Potgeiter was a favorite for the Gold Medal at the 1960 Summer Olympics
, but was seriously injured in an automobile accident in Germany two weeks before the Olympics, effectively ending his career.
He married German Olympian Renate Junker.
Pietermaritzburg
Pietermaritzburg is the capital and second largest city in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It was founded in 1838, and is currently governed by the Msunduzi Local Municipality. Its "purist" Zulu name is umGungundlovu, and this is the name used for the district municipality...
, KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal is a province of South Africa. Prior to 1994, the territory now known as KwaZulu-Natal was made up of the province of Natal and the homeland of KwaZulu....
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
} is a retired South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n Track and field athletics competitor, primarily known for the 400 metre and 440 yard hurdles.
He did participate in the 1956 Summer Olympics
1956 Summer Olympics
The 1956 Melbourne Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in Melbourne, Australia, in 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, which could not be held in Australia due to quarantine regulations...
at the age of 19 and was in third position until he fell over the final hurdle, ultimately finishing sixth. At 23 he, had achieved the world's best time in the event 49.3 (on a single turn, oversized track which disqualified any official world record). Potgeiter was a favorite for the Gold Medal at the 1960 Summer Olympics
1960 Summer Olympics
The 1960 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held from August 25 to September 11, 1960 in Rome, Italy...
, but was seriously injured in an automobile accident in Germany two weeks before the Olympics, effectively ending his career.
He married German Olympian Renate Junker.