Bruno Galliker

Bruno Galliker
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing  Switzerland
European Athletics Championships
Bronze medal – third place 1958 Stockholm 400 metres
Bronze medal – third place 1962 Belgrade 4x400 metres relay

Bruno Galliker (29 December 1931 – 27 May 2020) was a Swiss hurdler.[1] After his career he became a sport reporter at Swiss Radio.[2]

Galliker was born Emmenbrücke, and did not take up athletes until he was 23 years old after completing his apprenticeship as a banker, he originally competed for BTV Lucerne, before moving to Zürich and competing for BT Unterstrass.[2] In 1958 he competed at the 1958 European Athletics Championships, which were held in Stockholm, he entered the 400 metres hurdles, and in the semi-finals he broke the Swiss National record and then in the final he ran the same time 51.8 seconds to win the bronze medal, Galliker also competed in the 4 × 400 metres relay but the team came last in there heat.[3]

At the 1960 Summer Olympics, held in Rome, Galliker competed in the 400 metres hurdles, he won his first round heat in 51.2 seconds and then finished third in his semi-final to qualify for the final.[1] In the final he ran 51.11 seconds and finished sixth, due to this achievement he was voted Swiss Sports Personality of the Year.[2]

Two years later at the 1962 European Athletics Championships, Galliker could only reach the semi-finals in the 400 metres hurdles, but in the 4 × 400 metres relay, with Marius Theiler, Hansruedi Bruder and Jean-Louis Descloux, the team set a National record in winning the bronze medal.[4]

He became Swiss champion in 1960, 1962, 1963 and 1964; and also in the 200 metres hurdles in 1963.[5] His personal best time (with electronic timing) was 51.11 seconds (1960).[1]

Galliker died aged 88 years due to a self-inflicted accident in Zürich.[2]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "Bruno Galliker". olympedia.org. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d Zopfi, Stephan (29 May 2020). "Former athletics star Bruno Galliker died at the age of 89". Luzerner Zeitung. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  3. ^ "European Athletics Championships 1958". european-athletics.org. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  4. ^ "European Athletics Championships 1962". european-athletics.org. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  5. ^ "Swiss Championships". gbrathletics.com. Retrieved 6 June 2020.