Representing the United German Team, he won the bronze medal in the open weight division in Tokyo and was awarded the Silver Bay Leaf, Germany’s highest sports award, for his result. Eight years later, he finished second in the heavyweight category under West Germany's flag.
During his successful career as an athlete, Klaus Glahn won five medals at world championships, between 1967 and 1973, in heavyweight and open divisions and became European champion three times (1963, 1968 and 1970). He claimed 18 West German titles.
Beyond his competitive career, Klaus Glahn became a sports administrator and was Vice President of High Performance Sport within the West German Judo Federation from 1982-85, President of the West German Judo Federation from 1985-88 and also Vice President of the European Judo Union from 1985-88. From 1988-90 he became head of the newly founded Olympic centre at Hannover / Wolfsburg.
By profession Glahn worked as a sales manager for different companies and after reunification was a brand manager responsible for former East German counties. He was also active as a politician.
He was awarded the ninth Dan by Marius Vizer, IJF President, on the occasion of the Tokyo World Championships 2019.
The whole judo family wishes Mr Klaus Glahn a happy 80th birthday and congratulates him for his fantastic career at the service of the development of judo worldwide.