Thomas Haasmann saw the light of day on August 2, 1961, 60 years ago on Monday. On the occasion of his cradle festival, the former athlete, businessman and judo trainer invited to a big festival in Fontana Oberwaltersdorf. The jubilee announced an “announcement” in advance: “Today I will hand over the Bundesliga team to Gabor Geier (former Tiger fighter, note),” Haasmann surprised outsiders. There are several reasons for the decision: “The main reason is definitely the Galaxy”, the entrepreneur wants to dedicate himself even more intensively to his top-class fitness studio: “I don’t want to be on the mat at 80. Now is time to say goodbye. I don’t want to miss a single second on the mat.
Olympic fighter and world military champion
The judo mat decisively determined the being of the bon vivant. In 1984 he started at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles. In 1988, a suspension thwarted the second start under the sign of the five rings: “I would have been even better prepared.” Haasmann achieved international success in other competitions, for example with gold in the military world championships in the weight class up to 78 kilograms. After 20 years of competitive sport, he temporarily put an end to the judo chapter and built up an existence for himself with his company “Leder Haasmann”. Haasmann sold the successful company around the turn of the millennium, and invested the money in sports: in his first fitness studio and in judo.
The success story of the Tigers
In 2002 he founded the Galaxy Tigers together with Rudolf Eitelberger – “He was my teacher”: a success story because the two complemented each other perfectly: “Everyone said: I am an alpha animal, he is an alpha animal, we will meet within a very short time Nothing happened because we both recognized that each other can do a little better: Thomas is better at judo than me, I’m better at organizing, “said Eitelberger at the laudation for the birthday boy and Haasmann added:” He’s Rudi The only one I’ve known for at least 20 years and with whom I’ve never argued. “
Formative figures in Haasmann’s life
Eight Bundesliga titles, around 200 national champions in the various classes, ten European championship medals are the impressive results that the Tigers have achieved after almost two decades. No wonder Haasmann calls his fighters a second family. As part of his celebration, he also addressed words of thanks to the mothers of his three children, friends, the “Galaxy family” and his mother, who could not be present for health reasons. “Everyone has shaped my life in some way,” said Haasmann in her direction.
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