Walter LEHMANN - Swiss ex-World Champion gymnast has turned 90!

Walter LEHMANN (SUI)
... won this tankard when he became World Champion in 1950
(C) Zürichsee-Zeitung

In his hometown of Richterswil in Switzerland, Walter LEHMANN - one of the most successful Swiss gymnasts of the post-war period - celebrated his 90th birthday on 13th January.
The two-times winner of the Schweizer Kunstturntage (1942/'45) gained three silver medals at the 1948 Olympics - in the team event, in the overalls and on high bar.
At the World Championships in Basle in 1950 he enjoyed his greatest success, winning both the 12-piece overall competition and on rings, as well as three bronze medals (pommel horse, vault, high bar).

In 1945 at the world-famous tennis stadium Roland Garros, Walter Lehmann had emerged from his first international competition against France as the overall winner, and he participated in his last international competition - a match between Switzerland and Hungary - in 1954 at the age of 35...

Lehmann, on P-bars in the early 1950s

Walter LEHMANN - born on 13 January 1918
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* - von Erwin Hänggi, STV
Walter Lehmann (Richterswil), one of the most successful post-war gymnasts, is celebrating his 90th birthday today.
At the 1950 World Championships in Basle he won gold in the overall competition and on rings, after gaining three silver medals at the Olympic Games in 1948 in London (team, overall, and high bar).
At national level he won the Eidgenössische Kunstturnertage (1942 und 1945) and then also the Eidgenössisches Turnfest in 1947 in Berne, as well as gaining the title of Swiss Champion in 1951 in Zürich, all the time competing against such top-class rivals as Michael Reusch, Sepp Stalder, Jack Günthard etc. .
After his active career Walter Lehmann was responsible for many years at the Swiss Gymnastics Federation (EKV) for the organisation of the Swiss Championships and was an internationally renowned, expert and, most importantly, high-principled and honest judge, which led him to be honoured numerous times by the FIG with the position of head judge. Following health problems, from which he has now recovered, he still retains his interest in artistic gymnastics.
*Source: Erwin Hänggi, STV

Heidi und Walter LEHMANN (middle) with the ex-pommel horse artist Miroslav CERAR (r.) and his wife Stelenka at one of the traditional meetings in Ingelheim a few years ago (2001)

World's best judge 1972
In a review of Walter LEHMANN'S life, journalist Sibille Schärer of the Zürichsee-Zeitung describes his outstanding achievements as an internationally renowned judge.

* Zürichsee-Zeitung, 12-Jan-2009--:
After many successes, Walter Lehmann ended his active career in 1954 at the age of 35 .
A year later he married his wife Heidi, who he had got to know at a gymnastics event, the Turnerchränzli, in Rothrist.
In 1957 their daughter Susi was born. Nevertheless, Walter Lehmann did not leave the world of artistic gymnastics but remained active in various organisations and committees: «Out of 52 weekends I was away from home on about 45 for various events.»
Just as he had been a successful gymnast, he was similarly successful as a judge and ..

Internationale Kampfrichterkollegen:
Walter Lehmann (SUI) mit Karl-Heinz Zschocke, dem am 12. Januar 2008 verstorbenen ehemaligen FIG-Chefkampfrichter

* GYMmedia INTERNATIONAL

in 1972 he was awarded the title of World's Best Judge.
When he retired in 1984 Lehmann withdrew from all his positions. «I went from constantly working to doing nothing», he says. A neighbour recommended that he should buy a book entitled «Learning to Grow Old», since otherwise he might fall into a black hole, so to speak. «I bought the book, but I still haven't opened it.» He has never been bored. Today he likes jazz, does crossword puzzles and listens to folk music.
Until a year ago he travelled a lot, accepted various invitations and cultivated his many contacts with other gymnasts and clubs. Now, however, he suffers from pain in his knees and hips, so that he can no longer do so much.
* Source: Zürichsee-Zeitung (12.01.09); Sibille Schärer

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