27. February 2003  
Leipzig/Germany  
Artistic Gymnastics

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Klaus Koeste

Today the German Olympic Champion of artistic gymnastics (Munich 1972), Klaus KOESTE, celebrates his 60th birthday. Koeste lives in the little village Jesenitz, near the city Leipzig in the middle of Germany.
From 1961 to 1974 Koeste won 11 international medals, was the member of the GDR Olympic Bronze team 1964, 1968 and 1972 and he was two times European high bar champion (1971 and 1973).
Last year he was also the Champion in his age group at the German Gymnastics Festival 2002 in his hometown Leipzig.
With all together 34 national titles Koeste is the German record holder, together with his former rival from the German west side, Eberhard Gienger.

Klaus Köste and Alfred Schwarzmann (died 2000)
The German Magazine 'Kicker elected the German Olympic Champion (1936) in 1999 to the