Bruno Banzer

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Bruno Banzer
Born (1947-06-17) 17 June 1947 (age 78)
Height1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Gymnastics career
Discipline Men's artistic gymnastics
Country
represented
Flag of Liechtenstein.svg Liechtenstein

Bruno Banzer (born 17 June 1947) is a Swiss retired artistic gymnast who competed for Liechtenstein at the 1972 Summer Olympics, becoming the first man to represent Liechtenstein in gymnastics at the Olympic Games. He later became a trained electrician.

Contents

Early life

Banzer was born 17 June 1947, and he was acrobatic from a young age; he did his first headstand at two years old, and at five, he performed a handstand at a village wedding instead of performing poems as the other children did. [1]

Career

In 1972, Banzer missed making the Swiss Olympic team by a quarter of a point and decided to compete for Liechtenstein instead, which he said he was just as proud to do. [1] He was the first gymnast to enter the arena for the competition, [1] and he competed in six events in the individual all-around. His best placement was on the pommel horse, where he placed 60th, and he finished in 88th place in the all-around qualifications. [2] He and the other members of the delegation were visited by the reigning Prince and Princess of Liechtenstein, Franz Joseph II and Princess Gina, and their daughter Princess Nora, and the family watched his performance during the optional routines section of the qualification round. [3] To express his gratitude toward Liechtenstein for allowing him to compete, he put on a training course for young gymnasts in Schaan. [1] He is the only male artistic gymnast to have represented Liechtenstein at the Olympic Games. [4]

Post-gymnastics career

After finishing his competitive career, Banzer trained as an electrician and studied physical education and psychology. He visits Liechtenstein on a yearly basis. [1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "75 Jahre Liechtensteiner Turn- und Leichtathletikverband" [75 years of the Liechtenstein Gymnastics and Athletics Association](PDF). Andrea Kobler (in German). 2011. p. 10. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 October 2019.
  2. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Bruno Banzer Olympic Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  3. "Liechtenstein an der Olympiade 1972" [Liechtenstein at the 1972 Olympics]. Liechtensteiner Volksblatt (in German). 30 September 1972. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
  4. Hopkins, Lauren (1 January 2019). "The Best Men's Olympic Finishes of All Time". The Gymternet. Retrieved 27 June 2025.