Robert Förstemann (born 5 March 1986) is a German track cyclist specialising in the sprint disciplines and world champion in team sprint in 2010. In his later career he has transitioned to Paralympic track cycling, representing Germany as a sighted 'pilot' in tandem events at the 2020 Summer Paralympics.
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Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Born | (1986-03-05) 5 March 1986 (age 36) Greiz, East Germany | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 96 kg (212 lb; 15.1 st) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Discipline | Track | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Role | Rider | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rider type | Sprinter | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Date | Placing | Event | Competition | Location | Country |
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2004 | 3 | Team sprint[N 1] | National championships | Leipzig | ![]() |
25 July 2005 | 3 | Team sprint[N 2] | European Track Championships | Fiorenzuola | ![]() |
August 2005 | 3 | Team sprint[N 3] | National championships | Hamburg | ![]() |
11 December 2005 | 3 | Team sprint[N 4] | World Cup | Manchester | ![]() |
19 August 2006 | 3 | Team sprint[N 5] | National championships | Cottbus | ![]() |
25 February 2007 | 2 | Team sprint[N 6] | World Cup | Manchester | ![]() |
29 March 2007 | ![]() | Team sprint[N 7] | World Championships | Palma de Mallorca | ![]() |
23 August 2007 | 2 | Team sprint[N 8] | National championships | Berlin | ![]() |
26 August 2007 | 3 | Sprint | National championships | Berlin | ![]() |
30 November 2007 | 2 | Team sprint[N 9] | World Cup | Sydney | ![]() |
28 August 2008 | 2 | Team sprint[N 10] | National championships | Büttgen | ![]() |
29 August 2008 | 1 | 1 km time trial | National championships | Büttgen | ![]() |
30 August 2008 | 1 | Sprint | National championships | Büttgen | ![]() |
11 December 2008 | 1 | Team sprint[N 11] | World Cup | Cali | ![]() |
25 March 2009 | ![]() | Team sprint[N 12] | World Championships | Pruszków | ![]() |
8 July 2009 | 1 | Team sprint[N 13] | National championships | Erfurt | ![]() |
1 November 2009 | 3 | Team sprint[N 14] | World Cup | Manchester | ![]() |
11 December 2009 | 2 | Sprint | World Cup | Cali | ![]() |
12 December 2009 | 2 | Team sprint[N 15] | World Cup | Cali | ![]() |
24 March 2010 | ![]() | Team sprint[N 16] | World Championships | Ballerup | ![]() |
19 February 2012 | 3 | Sprint | World Cup | London | ![]() |
2 August 2012 | ![]() | Team sprint[N 17] | Summer Olympics | London | ![]() |
18 October 2013 | ![]() | Team sprint[N 18] | European Track Championships | Apeldoorn | ![]() |
19 October 2013 | ![]() | Sprint | European Track Championships | Apeldoorn | ![]() |
The German Olympic team used a loophole in the International Cycling Union (UCI) regulations to include Förstemann as an additional member of their 2012 sprint cycling team.[1] He was also included in the German team for the mountain bike event.
In July 2012, a photograph of Förstemann's legs was widely circulated by the world's media during the 2012 Summer Olympics.[2] Described as a 'quad off' with Olympic team-mate André Greipel, the photo showed his quad muscles compared with those of the road cyclist. His thighs were measured with a circumference of 73 centimetres (29 in).[3] A circumference of 86 centimetres (34 in) has also been recorded, and the size of his quad muscles has led to him being called "Quadzilla" by some in his sport.[4]