Feature Image: Imago sportfotodienst
Author: Birgit Arendt
On October 25, the former national women’s coach Norbert Littkopf from the German Judo Federation passed away after a long illness.
At the end of July, he celebrated his 80th birthday with his family and his most successful athletes, although he was already visibly affected by his illness. Norbert Littkopf, known to everyone simply as “Nobsch,” began judo in 1961. “Unfortunately, I started too late to make a mark internationally,” he once said humbly, though he was quite successful on the national level.
Judo fascinated him so much that he even changed universities, moving from the Sports & Geography program in Greifswald to Leipzig in 1969, where he earned his coaching diploma in sports. He spent three years coaching young athletes before taking on responsibility for the top men’s team in Leipzig.
From 1990 to 2008, he served as the national coach for women. One of the highlights of his career was Johanna Hagn’s World Championship title, as well as Yvonne Bönisch’s Olympic victory in Athens in 2004. He also coached athletes to four world silver medals (two by Bönisch, and one each by Anja von Rekowski and Raffaella Imbriani), along with numerous other Olympic, world, and European medals, achieving an impressive tally of 82 international medals at European and World Championships as well as the Olympic Games—19 gold, 15 silver, and 48 bronze medals. He was twice named Europe’s Coach of the Year.
To his athletes, he was like a father figure. The fairness and harmony he fostered within the team, and the spirit of unity he encouraged, motivated and inspired his athletes. Music was his special hobby. He played ten instruments and often brought a lively atmosphere to training camps and other events with his music.
His athletes, particularly Annett Böhm, Sandra Köppen-Zuckschwerdt, and Katja Gerber, remained loyal to him and continued to visit him until his passing last Friday. “He was certainly an extraordinary person,” Annett Böhm said of her former coach.
Judo Germany bows deeply to Norbert Littkopf. Our heartfelt condolences go out to his wife Marlies and his family.
Author: EJU Media