The German athletics world mourns Fabian Schulze. The former pole vaulter succumbed to illness. In a few days he would have celebrated his 40th birthday.
Former pole vaulter Fabian Schulze is dead. He was only 39 years old. A statement from the German Athletics Association said: “Fabian Schulze died of a treacherous illness in his adopted home of Sonthofen a few days before his 40th birthday.” He would have been 40 years old on March 7th.
Schulze came fourth at the 2006 World Indoor Championships in Moscow, fifth at the 2005 European Indoor Championships in Madrid and sixth at the 2010 European Championships in Barcelona. He was also named German runner-up four times.
The pole vaulter from Filderstadt started his career for LG Leinfelden-Echterdingen, Salamander Kornwestheim-Ludwigsburg, LG Stadtwerke Munich and VfL Sindelfingen. His career best was 5.83 meters jumped. This puts Schulze in ninth place on the all-time German best list.
Ex-colleague Unger: “I’m deeply sad and can hardly find words”
The former sprinter Tobias Unger, Schulze’s former companion and roommate, was affected: “Fabian became a friend during our time together at Kornwestheim and in Munich, I am deeply sad and can hardly find words.”
The long-time national pole vault coach Herbert Czingon praised Schulze as a “friendly comrade who was always in the scene with a smile on his face.”
Almost exactly a year ago, Schulze and Unger attended the funeral of his former pole vault colleague Tim Lobinger, who also died early at the age of 50 from cancer.
Schulze leaves behind his wife and two children.