Manfred Kinder
A West German relay specialist whose powerful anchor legs secured Olympic medals across three consecutive Games in the 1960s.
Born 1938 (age 88)·German sprinter·Birthday: April 20·The Silent Generation
Biography
Manfred Kinder emerged from post-war Germany to become a pillar of consistency in the demanding world of 400-meter running. While he never stood atop an individual Olympic podium, his true legacy was forged in the collective effort of the 4x400 meter relay. His career spanned a remarkable era, seeing him compete in the 1960, 1964, and 1968 Olympics. In Rome, he helped secure a silver medal for the German team, a feat he would match with bronze eight years later in Mexico City. Kinder was known for his formidable strength on the final leg, a runner who could be relied upon to hold or gain position under immense pressure. His individual prowess was significant, reaching the Olympic 400m final in 1960, but it was his role as a team player that etched his name into the annals of track and field history, representing a nation rebuilding its international identity through sport.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Manfred was born in 1938, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Manfred Was Born
The biggest hits of 1938
#1 Movie
You Can't Take It with You
Best Picture
You Can't Take It with You
Manfred's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1938Born
Kristallnacht and the escalation toward WWII
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $2,850Min wage: $0.25/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Begin the Beguine" — Artie ShawBest Picture: You Can't Take It with You
1943Started school
Allies invade Sicily; Battle of Stalingrad ends
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,290Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I've Heard That Song Before" — Harry JamesBest Picture: Casablanca
1951Became a teenager
First color TV broadcast in the US
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Too Young" — Nat King ColeBest Picture: An American in Paris
1954Could drive
Brown v. Board of Education desegregates US schools
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $8,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Little Things Mean a Lot" — Kitty KallenBest Picture: On the Waterfront
1956Could vote
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1959Turned 21
Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $12,400Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"The Battle of New Orleans" — Johnny HortonBest Picture: Ben-Hur
1968Turned 30
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1978Turned 40
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1988Turned 50
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1998Turned 60
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2008Turned 70
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 80
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 88 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won a silver medal in the 4x400 meter relay at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome.
- Earned a bronze medal in the same event at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City.
- Competed in three consecutive Olympic Games (1960, 1964, 1968), finishing fifth in the 4x400 relay in 1964.
- Reached the individual 400-meter final at the 1960 Olympics, finishing in fifth place.
Did You Know?
He was a physical education teacher by profession alongside his athletic career.
His Olympic medal-winning relays in 1960 and 1968 were 8 years apart, showcasing exceptional longevity.
He competed for the unified German team in 1960 and 1964, and for West Germany in 1968.
“The baton pass is where races are won, not just the running.”
