sprinter athletics competitor middle-distance runner
In the same summer the British runner Sydney Wooderson set a remarkable new world record over 800 m at 1:48.4 minister When, in 1939, Harbig set a new national record of 1:49.4 he knew that the world record was not an unrealistic prospect. However, in the same season, Mario Lanzi ran a time of 1:49.5 in Pisa.
The two rivals met in Milan in July for a much-celebrated race over 800 m on a 500 m-track.
In his usual manner Lanzi took the lead and was still in front on the final bend. However, at the start of the 125 m-home-straight Harbig overtook him with an astonishing sprint.
He finished with a new world record of 1:46.6 minister Lanzi, behind him, set a new Italian record of 1:49.0.
In the following years Harbig"s time turned out to be a very hard record to break.
Even track legends Arthur Wint and Mal Whitfield could not threaten lieutenant Finally, in August 1955 the Belgian runner Roger Moens set a new world record of 1:45.7. Also, in 1939 Harbig set a world record over 400 m on a 500 m-track in Frankfurt in 46.0 secretary
In Dresden in 1941 he set a world record over 1000 m in 2:21.5.
In the Second World War Harbig was sent to the Eastern Front and died in Ukraine in 1944. Holding the rank of Feldwebel (Sergeant) at the time he served in Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 6 under the command of Hauptmann (Captain) Friedrich August von der Heydte as a platoon leader.
Sturmabteilung]
He started running in 1934 and was a member of the bronze-medal-winning German 4x400 m relay team at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin.