1923-2002
A local athlete who inspired many a Sudburian died doing one of the things he loved best…running. Kurt Gelbhaar collapsed at the Sudbury Arena. He was 78. Interment will be at the Civic Cemetery.
Kurt’s story is one of dedication to family, friends and sport. He was born in Saxon, Germany in 1923. He married Ursula Kothe in 1949 and the couple moved to Sudbury. He was a stope leader at Creighton Mine and retired from Inco in 1984 after 31 and a half years service. Kurt also became quite the soccer star during the 1950s. During an interview with Northern Life in 1999 Kurt said when he stopped playing soccer he just had to do something else. “I couldn’t sit down and say, well, my career is over,” read a quote in the article. He took up track at an age many men start to slow down and competed in various international events over the past 20 years. And his daily regimen was something to be admired. He told Northern Life he got up every morning at 6 am and went for a 10K run. That was reflected in the solid muscular tone of his athletic frame.
Kurt was selected Northern Life Athlete of the Week on numerous occasions and his list of competition victories was near endless. Among the highlights, a gold medal in 1999 at the World Championship Duathlon in Huntersville, North Carolina. He also won the gold in 1998 when the event was held in Germany. Rick Pusiak-Northern Life Photos courtesy George Aitkin
Kurt’s Athlete Profile – OMA Newsletter 1996
Kurt’s Canadian Track Records
Indoor
M75 800m 3:09.76 Toronto ‘99
M70 1500m 5:41.78 Toronto ‘94
M75 1500m 6:12.0 Toronto ‘99
M70 3000m 12:23.57 Toronto ‘94
M75 3000m 13:27.10 Toronto ‘99
M65 5000m 20:19.4 Toronto ‘90
Outdoor
M75 1500m 5:55.91 Toronto ‘98
M65 Mile 5:45.7 Sudbury ‘89
M75 Mile 6:56.8 Sudbury ‘99
M70 5000m 20:47.86 Etobicoke ‘93
M75 5000m 22:23.90 Toronto ‘98
M70 10,000m 42:59.54 Etobicoke ‘93
M75 10,000m 46:20.43 Saskatoon ‘98
Kurt’s Canadian Road Records
M75 5K 22:08 Toronto ‘98
M75 5M 44:33 Hamilton ‘98
M75 10K 44:33 “ “
M75 15K 1:11:13 Waterdown ‘99
M75 20K 1:41:46 Ottawa ‘00
M75 Half Mara 1:41:46 “ “
OMTFA Indoor Championships Meet Records
M75 800m 3:09.76 1999
M70 1500m 5:41.78 1994
M75 1500m 6:12.0 1999
M70 3000m 12:17.03 1996
M75 3000m 13:27.10 1999
OMTFA Outdoor Championships Meet Records
M75 800m 3:01.21 Toronto ‘99
M70 1500m 5:43.71 Sudbury ‘93
M75 10,000m 47:33.98 Toronto ‘99
1999 Gateshead WMA Championships
M75 800m 4th 2:56.75
1500m Gold 5:59.62
5000m 4th 23:34.51
10K X-C Silver 48:54
