Eberhard Gienger, born on July 21, 1951 in Künzelsau, is not only a legend in gymnastics, but also a man of many facets. Let us accompany this extraordinary athlete on his spectacular journey, during which he not only conquered gravity, but also shone in politics and voluntary work.
1. Career as a gymnast:
Gymnastics was his stage, and Gienger excelled. From 1971 to 1981, he not only won an impressive 36 German championship titles, dominating German gymnastics, but also won the hearts of fans, especially on the horizontal bar. His gymnastics skills reached their peak at the 1976 Summer Olympics, when he took home the coveted bronze medal. "Ebse" also won the 1974 World Championship and the European Championship three times on this apparatus. But it was not just the Olympic glory - Gienger also left his legacy in the form of the Gienger salto, which is named after him. A spectacular flying element in which he bravely pushed himself off the horizontal bar and performed a back salto with a half longitudinal axis turn and then got hold of the bar again - a breathtaking spectacle that captivated gymnastics fans around the world.
2. Life and career:
But Gienger was not only a virtuoso on the mat. After successfully completing his studies as a sports teacher at the Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz, he ventured into the corporate world. In 1990 he founded Eberhard Gienger Pro-Motion GmbH, an impressive example of his entrepreneurial versatility.
3. Politics: The somersault into the political arena:
Another breathtaking leap followed in 2001 - this time into politics as a member of the CDU. Gienger's political career took him to the German Bundestag, where he held various positions until 2021.
4. Social commitment: The gymnast as a volunteer:
But Gienger was not only involved on the mat and in politics, but also in society. His membership in the National Olympic Committee, his role in the German Gymnastics Association and his time as Vice President for Competitive Sports in the DOSB are testament to his outstanding voluntary commitment. Gienger was not only a gymnast hero, but also a hero for sport.
5. Other: Away from the gymnastics mat:
Away from the gymnastics mat, Gienger ventured into daring adventures. From skydiving to the spectacular rescue of an East German athlete during the 1975 European Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Bern - Gienger always surprised with his determination and versatility.
Eberhard Gienger - A man who shines beyond the boundaries of the gym and inspires generations.
