Career His coaches were Jutta Müller, followed by Sonja Morgenstern. He retired from competition in 1996.
Achievements He won two senior internationals, bronze at the 1989 Karl Schäfer Memorial and at the 1990 Nations Cup, and three national titles, East German in 1990 and German in 1993-1994. At the European Championships, Winkler achieved his highest placement, tenth, in 1993 and 1994, and at the World Championships, 15th in 1993.