Deceased, but not completely forgotten

He won his first Formula 1 race 50 years ago, and his exciting life ended five years ago. Even if the candlelight in the ice-gray family crypt in the Heiligenstadt cemetery goes out again after All Saints’ Day – Niki Lauda remains unforgettable.

However, the public has learned little or nothing about the other exceptional Austrian athletes who died this year. The media is too busy with current sports stars. An argument made by the widowed trainer husband of the former all-around world record holder and later Interior Minister Read Procopius does not apply. “Scandal” roared Gunnar Prokop into the phone because he was unsuccessfully searching for a big obituary in the KURIER for the former hammer throw record holder who died in August at the age of 85 Heinrich Thun had been looking for. After all, Thun was not only athlete of the year twice, but also the best in the world in 1963. What no other Austrian athlete has achieved to date.

The death of the Styrian cycling legend Rudi Mitteregger (November 27, 1944 – April 24, 2024) remained largely unmentioned in newspapers outside of Styria. After all, the ORF took the film out of the archive that the whole of Austria was so amused at the time. When Mitteregger on the Gaberl after a defect, desperately waiting for his carers, shouted again and again: “Where are the Trooottelns?” Mitteregger is unfairly remembered more for the fit of rage than for his three tour victories.

Tennis pioneer

The Viennese will remain unforgotten, at least for tennis fans of the 70+ generation Sonja Pachta (April 24, 1941 – August 21, 2024). Always swinging the racket in elegant white, Pachta was considered the grand dame on red tennis clay. On English lawn, the 52-time national champion (not a misprint) made it to the Wimbledon round of 16 in both singles and mixed doubles. The tennis association paid tribute to Pachta in a long obituary, something that another association did not do after the death of another extraordinary athlete. Just out of ignorance?

Rudi Kruspelwho died two weeks ago at the age of 74, was actually more of a household name in the art scene. Trained, valued and supported by Gottfried Helnweinthe son of a Simmering cemetery gardener managed to have a second career painting with a brush. The first Olympic participant in diving, who was blessed with incredible talent for movement, ended brutally.

Kruspel received medical treatment too late and incorrectly after a supposedly harmless knee dislocation suffered during training in France. After he was transported home in Vienna, his leg had to be amputated. There was hardly any financial help from the swimming association. And 50 years later, there is not a single line on its homepage about the passing of the former exceptional athlete.