Volker Hadwich

Volker Hadwich (born 23 September 1964) is a German male former javelin thrower who competed for East Germany and Germany. Born in Magdeburg, during his career he competed for his hometown club SC Magdeburg and stood at 1.96 m, weighing 103 kg.[1] He set his personal best of 84.84 m (278 ft 4 in) in 1989.[2]

Hadwich competing at the 1989 East German Championships

He threw beyond eighty metres for the first time in the 1986 season, achieving a best of 81.02 m (265 ft 9 3⁄4 in) in Erfurt, ranking in the world's top twenty that year.[3] He had his first international success at the 1987 Universiade, where he was the bronze medallist behind Marek Kaleta and Sejad Krdžalic.[4]

The 1989 season was the peak of his career. He won his first national title at the East German Athletics Championships with a meet record throw of 84.06 m (275 ft 9 1⁄4 in).[5] He was the bronze medallist at both the 1989 European Cup and 1989 IAAF World Cup, with Steve Backley being the winner at both events.[6][7] He ended the year second on the European rankings to Backley, courtesy of a lifetime best performance of 84.84 m (278 ft 4 in) in Macerata,[8] which made him the fourth best athlete in the world in 1989.[3]

After missing much of the 1990 and 1991 seasons due to injury,[9] he returned to claim the second and final national title of his career at the German Athletics Championships, throwing 82.26 m (269 ft 10 1⁄2 in) (his best that year).[10][3] As a result he was chosen to represent Germany at the 1992 Summer Olympics.

Later investigation of leaked Stasi files showed Hadwich had failed doping tests for abnormal levels of testosterone, which were subsequently covered up by the national sports body.[11]

International competitions
YearCompetitionVenuePositionEventNotes
1987 Universiade Zagreb, Yugoslavia 3rd Javelin throw 78.82 m
1989 European Cup Gateshead, United Kingdom 3rd Javelin throw 79.38 m
IAAF World Cup Barcelona, Spain 3rd Javelin throw 80.30 m
1992 Olympic Games Barcelona, Spain 12th Javelin throw 75.28 m

National titles

Seasonal progression
  • 1986: 81.02 m
  • 1987: 80.74 m
  • 1988: 81.26 m
  • 1989: 84.84 m
  • 1992: 82.26 m

References
  1. Volker Hadwich. Sports Reference. Retrieved on 2017-02-14.
  2. Volker Hadwich. IAAF. Retrieved on 2017-02-14.
  3. Volker Hadwich. Track and Field Brinkster. Retrieved on 2017-02-14.
  4. World Student Games (Men). GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 2017-02-14.
  5. East German Championships. GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 2017-02-14.
  6. European Cup A Final. GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 2017-02-14.
  7. IAAF World Cup. GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 2017-02-14.
  8. European Top Performers. GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 2017-02-14.
  9. Klaus Amrhein: Biographisches Handbuch zur Geschichte der Deutschen Leichtathletik 1898-2005. 2 Bände, Darmstadt 2005 publiziert über Deutsche Leichtathletik Promotion- und Projektgesellschaft (in German)
  10. German Championships. GBR Athletics. Retrieved on 2017-02-14.
  11. „EINE GROSSE MAFIA“ (in German) (1994-03-21). Retrieved on 2017-02-14.
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