Lutz Heßlich (born 17 January 1959) is a former

racing cyclist Cycle sport is competitive physical activity using bicycles. There are several categories of bicycle racing including road bicycle racing, cyclo-cross, mountain bike racing, track cycling, BMX, and cycle speedway. Non-racing cycling spo ...

from

East Germany East Germany, officially known as the German Democratic Republic (GDR), was a country in Central Europe from Foundation of East Germany, its formation on 7 October 1949 until German reunification, its reunification with West Germany (FRG) on ...

. He competed for East Germany in the

1980 Summer Olympics The 1980 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad () and officially branded as Moscow 1980 (), were an international multi-sport event held from 19 July to 3 August 1980 in Moscow, Soviet Union, in present-day Russ ...

held in Moscow, Soviet Union in the individual sprint event where he finished in first place. He missed the

1984 Summer Olympics The 1984 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXIII Olympiad and commonly known as Los Angeles 1984) were an international multi-sport event held from July 28 to August 12, 1984, in Los Angeles, California, United States. It marked the ...

due to the Soviet led boycott but returned to the

1988 Summer Olympics The 1988 Summer Olympics (), officially the Games of the XXIV Olympiad () and officially branded as Seoul 1988 (), were an international multi-sport event held from 17 September to 2 October 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. 159 nations were represe ...

in Seoul, South Korea where he won a second gold medal in the individual sprint. In October 1986, he was awarded a Star of People's Friendship in gold (second class) for his sporting success. Between 1979 and 1987 he was four times world champion in individual sprint.

Private life

Lutz Heßlich lives with his family in

Cottbus Cottbus () or (;) is a university city and the second-largest city in the German state of Brandenburg after the state capital, Potsdam. With around 100,000 inhabitants, Cottbus is the most populous city in Lusatia. Cottbus lies in the Sorbian ...

where since

1989 1989 was a turning point in political history with the "Revolutions of 1989" which ended communism in Eastern Bloc of Europe, starting in Poland and Hungary, with experiments in power-sharing coming to a head with the opening of the Berlin W ...

he has run a bicycle shop. His great-grandfather, Walter Heßlich, was also a

and his son

Nico Christa Päffgen (; 16 October 1938 – 18 July 1988), known by her stage name Nico, was a German singer, songwriter, actress, and model. Nico had roles in several films, including Federico Fellini's '' La Dolce Vita'' (1960) and Andy Warhol's ...

has embarked on a career as a competition

in 2008.

References

1959 births Living people People from Ortrand Sportspeople from Bezirk Cottbus East German male cyclists Olympic cyclists for East Germany Olympic gold medalists for East Germany Cyclists at the 1980 Summer Olympics Cyclists at the 1988 Summer Olympics Olympic medalists in cycling Cyclists from Brandenburg Medalists at the 1980 Summer Olympics Medalists at the 1988 Summer Olympics East German track cyclists {{Germany-cycling-Olympic-medalist-stub