Sports hall is named after this Olympic star
Created: 06/22/2022Updated: 06/22/2022 12:57 p.m
By: Guido Verstegen
Still has a lot of Olympic souvenirs: Paul Barth with his collection in 2017. © Archive photo: Marcus Schlaf
At the Olympic Games in 1972 he won the bronze medal: judoka Paul Barth.
Now, almost exactly 50 years after his great success, a monument is erected in Gröbenzell: the triple gymnasium on Wildmoosstraße is named after him.
Gröbenzell
– 60 years ago he stood on the mat for the first time.
Just ten years later, at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, he secured the bronze medal.
The following year he founded the judo department at 1. SC Gröbenzell: Paul Barth is now receiving a very special honor.
The municipality of Gröbenzell will rename the previously nameless triple gymnasium in the leisure center on Wildmoosstraße to Paul Barth Halle - according to the unanimous vote in the most recent meeting of the municipal council.
To this day, Barth is the only Gröbenzeller who has ever won an Olympic medal.
For many years he made outstanding contributions to the community, be it as a trainer or as a department head.
"That makes me very proud," says the 76-year-old happily.
“I was always very happy and had a lot of good friends and I really enjoyed establishing judo in Gröbenzell.
And it works wonderfully even without me, we have produced good coaches.”
Gröbenzell is known far beyond the local borders as a judo stronghold
Margit Dippold congratulates the community on their decision.
"This is so beautiful!
Paul Barth was my first trainer,” remembers the second chairman of the SC judo department.
With his work and the establishment of the judo department, Barth has also made a social contribution to Gröbenzell, the municipal council justifies the decision.
Despite his successes and merits, he is a modest, down-to-earth person who is very much appreciated by those around him, who is firmly rooted in Gröbenzell and well-known.
"It is thanks to Paul Barth, among other things, that the community of Gröbenzell is known far beyond the local borders as a judo stronghold.
This should be honored during his lifetime by naming the hall after him.
(
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"The Olympics are not the reason, but rather the reason for the decision," emphasized Axel von Walter (SPD), who was an active judoka himself.
“Paul Barth conveyed a spirit far beyond the sport and never promoted elites.
He was always concerned with offering sports for all children and young people in Gröbenzell.”
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Martin Runge (Greens) was already concerned with the "celebratory act" as such.
The deputy mayor suggested September 1 for the baptism – exactly 50 years ago to the day Paul Barth received his Olympic medal at the award ceremony in Munich.
Runge also brought possible prominent guests of honor into play: The International Olympic Committee has announced that top officials will be there for the Olympic anniversary in Munich, "and maybe we can organize something there."