WS
Wolfgang Schmidt

Photo: Richter—CC BY-SA 3.0 de

Wolfgang Schmidt

GDRGDRMen
Birth dateJan 16, 1954
BirthplaceBerlin, Margraviate of Brandenburg
Height1.99 m
Weight115 kg

Wolfgang Schmidt (born 16 January 1954) is a German former track and field athlete who competed for East Germany at the 1976 Summer Olympics and won the silver medal in the discus throw.

A former world record holder, he also won several medals at the European Athletics Championships Schmidt made headlines in 1982 due to his failed attempt to escape from East Germany.

He later competed for the Federal Republic of Germany and won third place in the 1990 European Athletics Championships Born in Berlin, he competed for the SC Dynamo Berlin / Sportvereinigung (SV) Dynamo.

Key facts
Discus Throw
71.16
#20 all-time
Shot Put
20.76
#268 all-time
1992 season best
66.86
Aug 14, 1992 · Hafnarfjördur (ISL)
1992 season best
Medals
Olympic Games: 1 silver
Age
72 years old

As of Sep 12, 2026: Discus Throw 71.16 (#20 all-time), Shot Put 20.76 (#268 all-time), 1992 season best 66.86 (Aug 14, 1992, Hafnarfjördur (ISL)) · Olympic Games: 1 silver · 72 years old

PB

Personal bests

20.76
#268 all-time
71.16
#20 all-time
🏅

Medals

🥇🥈🥉Total
Olympic Games-1-1

Performance Charts

Season bests

SeasonDisciplineResultWindDateTrendCompetitions
1992
DT
66.86-Aug 14, 1992
↓
Hafnarfjördur (ISL)
1991
DT
66.36-Sep 14, 1991
↓
Sindelfingen (GER)
1990
SP
18.89-Aug 5, 1990
↑
Köln (GER)
1990
DT
68.30-May 5, 1990
↓
Modesto, CA (USA)
1989
SP
19.97-Jun 17, 1989
↑
Oberkochen (FRG)
1989
DT
70.92-Sep 9, 1989
↓
Norden (GER)
1988
SP
20.13-Jul 10, 1988
↑
Weiler (FRG)
1988
DT
68.22-Jun 22, 1988
↓
Hafnarfjördur (ISL)
1981
SP
20.59-Aug 1, 1981
↑
Erfurt (GER)
1981
DT
69.60-Jun 13, 1981
↓
Dresden (GER)
1980
SP
20.76-May 18, 1980
↑
Erfurt (GER)
1980
DT
68.48-Jul 9, 1980
↓
Berlin (GER)
1979
SP
20.25-Aug 15, 1979
↑
Zürich (SUI)
1979
DT
69.08-Jul 7, 1979
↓
Berlin (GER)
1978
SP
20.76-May 31, 1978
↑
Berlin (GER)
1978
DT
71.16-Aug 9, 1978
↓
Berlin (GER)
1977
SP
19.08-Jun 15, 1977
↑
Berlin (GER)
1977
DT
68.26-Aug 24, 1977
↓
Zürich (SUI)
1976
SP
19.46-Jun 19, 1976
↑
Berlin (GDR)
1976
DT
68.60-May 21, 1976
↓
Köln (GER)
1975
SP
19.47-Jun 7, 1975
↑
Berlin (GER)
1975
DT
66.80-Jun 22, 1975
↓
Dresden (GER)
1974
SP
19.19-Aug 14, 1974
↑
Berlin (GER)
1974
DT
64.10-Aug 24, 1974
↓
Berlin (GDR)
1973
SP
19.19-Jul 1, 1973
↑
Leipzig (GER)
1973
DT
61.30-Jul 22, 1973
↓
Dresden (GER)
1972
DT
57.90-Aug 23, 1972
↓
Berlin (GER)

1992

5 performances
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
DT
65.94-Aug 21Berlin ISTAF, Olympiastadion, Berlin
DT
63.20-Aug 19Weltklasse Zürich, Zürich
DT
66.86-Aug 14Hafnarfjördur
DT
65.48-May 30San José
DT
65.12-May 27Salinas, CA

1991

7 performances
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
DT
66.36-Sep 14Sindelfingen
DT
63.84-Sep 6Rieti
DT
64.76-Aug 27IAAF World Championships, National Stadium, Tokyo
DT
65.18-Aug 26IAAF World Championships, National Stadium, Tokyo
DT
64.76-Aug 24IAAF World Championships, National Stadium, Tokyo
DT
65.18-Aug 24IAAF World Championships, National Stadium, Tokyo
DT
66.22-Apr 8Los Gatos, CA

1990

22 performances
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
DT
64.80-Sep 19New Delhi
DT
66.12-Sep 16Padova
DT
66.52-Sep 15Kamp-Lintfort
DT
66.30-Sep 9Schaan
DT
66.70-Sep 8Lindau
DT
65.90-Sep 4Koblenz
DT
64.10-Sep 1Split European Championships
DT
64.84-Aug 31Split European Championships
DT
64.10-Aug 27Split European Championships
DT
64.84-Aug 27Split European Championships
DT
66.12-Aug 11German Championships, Düsseldorf
DT
63.10-Aug 11German Championships, Düsseldorf
SP
18.89-Aug 5Köln
DT
60.44-Jul 15Böblingen
DT
65.06-Jul 10Ingolstadt
DT
65.82-Jul 5Los Gatos, CA
DT
61.98-Jun 9Recklinghausen
DT
63.60-May 27Southampton
DT
66.32-May 25Sindelfingen
DT
66.36-May 19Bensheim
DT
68.30-May 5Modesto ModR, Modesto, CA
DT
65.88-Apr 22Walnut Mt. SAC Relays, Walnut, CA

1989

16 performances
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
DT
62.88-Sep 20New Delhi
DT
65.42-Sep 13Jerez de la Frontera
DT
65.10-Sep 12Athina
DT
70.92-Sep 9Norden
DT
66.42-Sep 1Herculis
DT
65.16-Aug 27Köln
DT
64.54-Aug 19Kamp-Lintfort
DT
64.44-Aug 13Adriaan Paulen Memorial, Hengelo
DT
65.48-Aug 12Hamburg
DT
62.82-Aug 11Hamburg
DT
66.20-Aug 8Budapest Hungalu Grand Prix, Budapest
SP
19.88-Jul 30Ebersbach
DT
66.02-Jul 26Ingolstadt
DT
60.80-Jul 22Den Haag
DT
67.28-Jul 16Lauda
SP
19.28-Jul 16Lauda
Showing 1 - 50 of 225

Honours

4

IAAF World Championships

Discus Throw

1991
🥉

Split European Championships

Discus Throw

1990
🥉

Split European Championships

Discus Throw

1990
🥈

Herculis

Discus Throw

1989
4

The XXII Olympic Games

Discus Throw

1980
🥇

Montréal IAAF World Cup

Discus Throw

1979
🥇

Ciudad de México Universiade

Discus Throw

1979
🥉

Praha European Championships

Shot Put

1978
🥇

Praha European Championships

Discus Throw

1978
🥇

Praha European Championships

Discus Throw

1978
🥉

Praha European Championships

Shot Put

1978
🥇

Düsseldorf IAAF World Cup

Discus Throw

1977
🥈

The XXI Olympic Games

Discus Throw

1976
8

Roma European Championships

Discus Throw

1974
8

Roma European Championships

Discus Throw

1974
🥈

European Junior Championships

Shot Put

1973
🥇

European Junior Championships

Discus Throw

1973
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is Wolfgang Schmidt's Discus Throw personal best?

Wolfgang Schmidt's Discus Throw personal best is 71.16, set on Aug 9, 1978 in Berlin (GER), #20 on the all-time list.

Which events does Wolfgang Schmidt compete in?

Wolfgang Schmidt competes in the Discus Throw and Shot Put.

How did Wolfgang Schmidt perform in 1992?

1992 season best: 66.86, set on Aug 14, 1992 in Hafnarfjördur (ISL).

How many medals has Wolfgang Schmidt won?

Wolfgang Schmidt has won 1 Olympic Games medal.