9 7 4 ▁European ▁Championships . ▁ ▁He ▁used ▁a ▁decom pression ▁chamber ▁belonging ▁to ▁the ▁state ▁air line ▁Inter flug ▁in ▁training ▁for ▁the ▁ 1 9 7 2 ▁Olympics , ▁so ▁as ▁to ▁simulate ▁the ▁effects ▁of ▁alt itude ▁training . ▁He ▁set ▁two ▁World ▁Records ▁during ▁his ▁racing ▁career , ▁the ▁first ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 0 ▁( 1 : 2 5 : 5 0 ), ▁the ▁second ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 2 ▁( 1 : 2 5 : 1 9 . 4 ) ▁equ alling ▁Hans - Ge org ▁Re im ann ' s ▁record . ▁ ▁He ▁served ▁in ▁the ▁East ▁German ▁Army ▁while ▁training , ▁rising ▁to ▁the ▁rank ▁of ▁Major . ▁After ▁finishing ▁his ▁racing ▁career , ▁he ▁became ▁a ▁well - known ▁photograph er ▁in ▁East ▁Germany . ▁He ▁was ▁vice - pres ident ▁of ▁the ▁Union ▁of ▁German ▁Olymp ians ▁( G emein schaft ▁Deutsch er ▁Olymp iate il nehmer , ▁or ▁G DO ) ▁from ▁ 1 9 9 1 ▁to ▁ 1 9 9 8 . ▁He ▁then ▁became ▁a ▁press ▁officer ▁for ▁OS C ▁P ots dam ▁athlet ic ▁club . ▁He ▁rac ed ▁for ▁the ▁AS K ▁Vor wär ts ▁P ots dam ▁club ▁( the ▁army ▁sports ▁club ). ▁He ▁was ▁co ached ▁by ▁Wilhelm ▁K ust ak ▁until ▁ 1 9 6 8 , ▁and ▁then ▁by ▁Hans - Jo achim ▁Path us . ▁In ▁his ▁racing ▁years ▁he ▁was ▁ ▁tall , ▁and ▁we ighed