Mourning for Wolf-Dieter Poschmann († 70)
Stand: 30.08.2021
Wolf Dieter Poschmann belonged to the moderation team of the “Sportstudio” from 1994 to 2011
Source: picture alliance / dpa / Horst Galuschka
Wolf-Dieter Poschmann is dead. The popular ZDF commentator made a name for himself in athletics, was a good athlete himself and, as a moderator, was one of the faces of the “sports studio”. Born in Cologne, he was only 70 years old.
Wolf-Dieter Poschmann was one of the defining faces of ZDF when the broadcaster had sport on its program. A smart, eloquent moderator. He was considered the voice of athletics and was a successful long and medium-distance runner himself in the past.
His voice is now silent. Poschmann died at the age of 70 after a short, serious illness in Mainz.
Poschmann was editor of the ZDF from 1993 to 2016, from 1994 to 2011 he was part of the team of moderators at the “Sportstudio”. Born in Cologne, he originally wanted to become a teacher and had passed the state examination for higher education in German and history.
During his studies, however, he also pushed a career in athletics. Quite successful. In 1973 he finished second in the German marathon championship, in 1978 he ran the German record in the half marathon (1:03:36). His personal best marathon time was 2:19:29, run in Fürth in 1975. An Olympic participation was barely denied him 1976 for the Games in Montreal.
Poschmann came to ZDF as an intern, became a freelancer and finally a permanent editor. Appreciated as a specialist in athletics, as a commentator also trusted by the spectators, especially in football and speed skating. Quite often with flapper sentences like these: “From Jürgen Kohler, whom they all just call ‘Kokser’, back to today’s opponent Colombia – a successful transition in my opinion.”
In 2002 Poschmann peeps out of the legendary goal wall of the “Sportstudio”
Source: pa / dpa / Boris Roessler
Ten years ago he was replaced in the “Sportstudio” by Sven Voss, who was 34 years old at the time. He stayed with the station as chief sport reporter.
Excitement over doping comment
One of the most emotional moments in his commentary career was the completely surprising Olympic victory by Nils Schumann in 2000 in Sydney over the 800 meters: “This sensation also had a personal touch for me because I had put together a longer article about Nils Schumann in the run-up to Sydney . I was with him in Erfurt for three days, so that a friendly relationship developed between us. When he became Olympic champion, I was so moved that my voice broke away and I had to switch off my microphone for a short time. “
Poschmann was otherwise considered a man of clear words and did not always make himself popular. He commented on long-term doping bans and a doping ban for sinners as part of the 100 meter final in London 2012 as legally unenforceable and “not the solution”. He received numerous criticisms – including from doping expert Helmut Papst and decathlete Frank Busemann.
It was the excitement of his penultimate summer games, after his last appearance in 2016 in Rio Poschmann retired. He didn’t look back wistfully at the end of the day, instead saying a few months before the start of the games in Tokyo: “I’m glad that I’m no longer out and about every weekend or, as I used to, at major international events for several weeks. Now, together with my wife, who used to have to do without a lot, I enjoy life without any time constraints. “
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