Gymn Forum: Erwin Koppe

We Introduce Erwin Koppe

Gymnastik und Turnen, September 1959. For many, it was a surprise when the short but very muscular gymnast from Sport Club DHfK Leipzig, 21-year-old sport student Erwin Koppe, won the coveted AA title at the German championships this year.

It was great how he mastered the difficult Olympic compulsory program on the first day of competition, thus landing at the top of the 21-strong field, and then confirmed his victory in the optional program.

Three years ago, the then 18-year-old lathe operator came to Leipzig from his hometown of Rosenheim am Inn. He is one of countless young people who have settled in the GDR after they have finally had their eyes opened about the introduction of military conscription by Bonn.

Erwin first worked in a large Leipzig business belonging to the DHfK gym and trained with the sports club team. You could tell he had talent, but he still wasn't a competitor.

In 1957 he decided to take advantage of the favorable study programs that are available in our State to working people. He applied to the workers and peasants faculty to study to become a physical education teacher. Then, Erwin began intensive training under the guidance of club coach Rudi Schumacher.

His achievements fluctuated a lot: in the adult German championships in Frankfurt/Oder, Erwin competed in the master class for the first time and finished in 12th place, but a few months later at the Kurt-Rodel Memorial Gymnastics Tournament in 1958 in Greiz, he botched pommel horse (4 points!) and finished last.

Two competitions with other clubs at the end of 1958 were against the giant sport institutions in Kiev and Lvov and gave the young gymnast a lift. Erwin proved to be a valuable member of the team, and on rings, his specialty, he beat out four Soviet masters of sport, scoring 9.7 points.

Erwin Koppe became a member of the national team for the first time this year, representing the national colors of our Republic. But he wasn't able to take one of the top places at the friendly meet against Romania and France in Erfurt, or against the CSSR in July - he showed nerves on some exercises. "I just lacked confidence, and I didn't get enough of it in competition," he said later. "You don't get competitive experience during training."

But Erwin acquired something else in training - an incomparable stability on the apparatus due to the fact that he trains several times a day, especially in the weeks before a competition.

Fritz Bohm, last year's winner who could not defend the trophy this year, was the first to congratulate Erwin on his success. And everyone who witnessed the competition in the August-Scharttner-Hall, knows that Erwin Koppe is no longer an underdog but has become one of our best champions.