Thomas Zacharias (athlete)

Thomas Michael Zacharias (born 2 January 1947) is a German high jumper. He competed at the 1968 Olympics and finished in 14th place with a jump of 2.09 m. He set 5 national records (2,17 to 2,20 in 1970). His personal best is 2.22 m (worlds best indoor 1971).

Zacharias continues competing internationally, in the masters categories, where he set dozens of world records. Two of them, 2.00 m indoor and 1,98 m outdoor in the M50 age group, still stand since 1997. Zacharias is a lifelong proponent of the straddle technique in the high jump.

(i) = indoors, WR = world record, ER = European record, NR = national record

Zacharias was born to Hella and Helmut Zacharias. His father (died 2002) was the famous violin player, composer and orchestra director, his sister Sylvia holds a PhD in social sciences, whereas his brother Stephen is a composer and music producer for films and TV programs. Zacharias has a son Alejandro and daughter Cristina with Lola López, a sports teacher.

Zacharias completed his school studies in Hamburg (Germany), Genoa (Italy) and Ascona (Switzerland). He continued his education in Paris, Berlin and Mainz studdying philosophy and psychology but majoring in physical education, and since the 1980s lives on Lanzarote, one of Canary Islands. In the 2000s, besides high jump and track and field coach he became a specialist in golf biomechanics and tuition and published two books on its teaching. In 1999–2002 he worked as a psychologist with the national golf amateur team and in 2002-2008 was instruction advisor to the PGA of Germany.

•  
•  
• Thomas Zacharias (1997) Hoch- und Weitsprung Perfekt, Nentershausen
• Thomas Zacharias (2007) Golfprofis schwingen nicht – sie schlagen: Die richtige Technik verstehen und erlernen. Kosmos. ISBN 3440106926
• Thomas Zacharias (2011) Der neue Golfschlag. Kosmos. ISBN 3440127710