.jpg) Matthias Behr at an interview in Tauberbischofsheim (2016) | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1 April 1955 Tauberbischofsheim, West Germany |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Fencing |
Medal record | |
Matthias Behr (born 1 April 1955 in Tauberbischofsheim, Baden-Württemberg) is a former German foil fencer. He won a gold medal and three silvers at three Olympic Games.[1][2]
Matthias Behr attended the Kaufmännische Schule Tauberbischofsheim and fought for the Fencing-Club Tauberbischofsheim.[3] Matthias Behr is married to the former foil fencer Zita Funkenhauser. After termination of his career as a competitive athlete, he became principal of the part-time boarding school at the Olympic base of Tauberbischofsheim.
During his career as a fencer, he was part of a group of foil fencers from Tauberbischofsheim, or from the competitive centre there, who dominated their field nationally and internationally for almost 15 years.
On 19 July 1982, Matthias Behr, and foil fencing in general, became widely known outside of those interested in the sport when, at the world championship in Rome, Behr's blade broke and struck incumbent world champion Vladimir Smirnov in the eye, leading to Smirnov's death nine days later.[4]
Forty years later, amidst the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Behr called Smirnov's former wife in Ukraine, and gave her son-in-law and two grandchildren refuge during the war.[5]
Matthias Behr was one of the close confidants of Emil Beck and became his successor as team leader of the National German Fencing Team.
