Harry Glaß (11 October 1930 – 13 December 1997) was a German ski jumper. Born in Klingenthal, Saxony, he won a bronze medal in the Individual Large Hill event at the 1956 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo, becoming the first athlete to win an Olympic medal for East Germany.
Career
Glaß began training as a ski jumper in 1952 and joined the East German national team in 1953. After modifying his jumping style in 1954, he achieved significant success. He won the East German national championships in 1954, 1955, 1956, and 1958. His greatest achievement came at the 1956 Winter Olympics, where he earned the bronze medal in the individual large hill event.
Later Life
Glaß worked as a policeman (Volkspolizei) during his athletic career. His ski jumping career ended in 1960 following a serious fall during the Four Hills Tournament (Vierschanzentournee) at the Bergiselschanze in Innsbruck. A subsequent attempt at a comeback was unsuccessful. After his competitive career, he worked as a coach for SC Dynamo Klingenthal until 1980 and remained active within the club thereafter. He died in Rodewisch, Saxony, in December 1997 at the age of 67.
Personal Life
Despite sharing the same surname and being from the same town, Harry Glaß was not related to fellow East German ski jumper Henry Glaß, who competed in the 1970s. He was coached by Henry Glaß, though they were not related.
