Robert Hartmann has left the arena of sport.
The little man with the soft voice died on October 1st at the age of 82.
The death of the respected sports journalist in the familiar surroundings of his apartment in Maintal-Bischofsheim near Frankfurt came as a surprise.
In recent years, strokes had limited his mobility.
But his condition was not currently a cause for concern.
Hartmann leaves behind his wife, a son and a daughter and two grandchildren.
Hartmann's professional path began with a traineeship in his hometown of Fulda.
After years as an editor at the "Abendpost-Nacht issue" in Frankfurt, he made a name for himself as an employee of the FAZ in the 1970s.
The enthusiasm for athletics, which he also lived out as a middle-distance runner, shaped his path.
As a freelance journalist, the respected athletics expert worked for the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” for more than two decades.
Love the runner country
But his name also appeared in other newspapers and magazines such as the once legendary "Sportillustrate".
He also regularly contributed as an employee to the sports programs of Deutschlandfunk, which are highly valued by connoisseurs.
Hartmann's great love was for runners in Kenya, which he lived out in around fifty journeys.
The experiences and knowledge that he acquired were reflected in a whole series of books.
In this field he recovered from the disappointments of the doping scandals, which he dealt with critically.
Full of affection and admiration, the man from Fulda met the athletes whose language he spoke.
With the human dimension of his articles, Robert Hartmann became a defining figure in sports journalism.