Herbert Niemann

Herbert Niemann was the first East German judoka at the Olympics participating in 1964 at Tokyo with the mixed German team. He was eliminated early in the heavyweight class, losing both of his first round matches, handicapped by a rib injury. Niemann won four European heavyweight Championships (1961-62, 1964-65). Domestically he earned four individual and two team titles.

From 1966-72 he worked as a judo coach at his home club ASK Vorwärts Berlin. He then ran into trouble with his life, and the political system in former GDR, and his requests for departure to West Germany were never accepted. In 1991 he committed suicide directly after reunification. Niemann had been trained as a wheelwright.