Günter Zöller

Günter Zöller (born 21 May 1948) is a German figure skating coach and former competitor for East Germany. He is the 1970 World bronze medalist, the 1970 European bronze medalist, a five-time Blue Swords champion, and a five-time East German national champion.

Günter Zöller
Günter Zöller in 1967
Born (1948-05-21) 21 May 1948
Chemnitz, Saxony, Germany
Figure skating career
CountryEast Germany
Retired1972
Medal record
Representing  East Germany
Men's figure skating
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place1970 LjubljanaMen's singles
European Championships
Bronze medal – third place1970 LeningradMen's singles

Personal life

Günter Zöller was born 21 May 1948 in Chemnitz.[1]

Career
Günter Zöller in November 1971

Zöller began figure skating as a child. Coached by Jutta Müller, he represented the club SC Karl-Marx-Stadt and East Germany.[1]

Zöller debuted at the European Championships in 1963 and finished 19th. In 1965, he won his first East German national title and was sent to the 1965 European Championships, where he placed 12th. He then competed at his first World Championships, placing 18th.

In 1967, after winning his second national title, Zöller advanced to seventh at Europeans and 11th at Worlds. He was sent to the 1968 Winter Olympics in Grenoble and finished 11th.

The 1969–70 season was Zöller's most successful. After winning his fifth national title, he was awarded bronze medals at the 1970 European Championships in Leningrad and the 1970 World Championships in Ljubljana. An injury kept him out of competition the following season.[1]

Zöller traveled with the East German team to the 1972 European Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden but did not compete, choosing to defect before the start of the event.[2] On 10 January 1972, he obtained an alien's passport at the West German embassy in Sweden and boarded a ferry to Kiel.[2][3] He coached in Ludwigshafen before relocating to Mannheim in 1974.[1] His former students include Claudia Leistner, Rudi Cerne, Stefan Pfrengle, Manuela Ruben, Petra Ernert, and Nathalie Weinzierl.[1]

Results
International[4][5]
Event 62–63 63–64 64–65 65–66 66–67 67–68 68–69 69–70 71–72
Winter Olympics11th
World Champ.18th11th11th7th3rd
European Champ.19th12th7th8th4th3rdWD
Prague Skate2nd4th
Moscow News2nd
Blue Swords1st1st1st1st1st
National
East German2nd2nd1st1st1st1st1st
WD: Withdrew
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References
  1. "Immer noch an der Bande". Mannheimer Morgen (in German). 21 May 2013.
  2. "Zoeller defects". United Press International. Star-News. 11 January 1972.
  3. "ZOV Sport Verräter: Günter Zöller". Landtag Brandenburg. April–May 2014.
  4. "European Figure Skating Championships: Men" (PDF). International Skating Union. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 February 2012. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
  5. "Blue Swords (Pokal der Blauen Schwerter) - Gold Medalists". Figure Skating Corner. Archived from the original on 2014-03-13.
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