Ludwig Guttmann

German-British neurologist and founder of the Paralympic Games

Ludwig Guttmann in 1976

Ludwig Guttmann (3 July 1899 – 18 March 1980) was a German-British neurologist who is considered one of the founding figures of the Paralympic Games. His pioneering work in the treatment and rehabilitation of patients with spinal cord injuries revolutionized the field and laid the groundwork for the development of sports for people with disabilities.

Early Life and Education

Ludwig Guttmann was born in Tost, Upper Silesia, then part of the German Empire. He was the eldest of four children in a Jewish family. Guttmann showed an early interest in medicine and pursued his studies at the University of Breslau and later at the University of Freiburg, where he completed his medical degree in 1924.

Career in Germany

Guttmann began his medical career at the Breslau Jewish Hospital, where he worked under the guidance of the renowned neurologist Otfrid Foerster. During this time, he developed a keen interest in the treatment of spinal cord injuries, which were often considered untreatable at the time.

With the rise of the Nazi Party in Germany, Guttmann, being Jewish, faced increasing persecution. In 1933, he was dismissed from his position at the hospital and was forced to work at the Jewish Hospital in Breslau, where he continued his research and treatment of spinal injuries.

Emigration to the United Kingdom

In 1939, as the situation for Jews in Germany became increasingly perilous, Guttmann and his family fled to the United Kingdom with the assistance of the Council for Assisting Refugee Academics. In the UK, he initially worked at the Radcliffe Infirmary in Oxford.

Stoke Mandeville Hospital

In 1944, Guttmann was appointed as the director of the National Spinal Injuries Centre at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Buckinghamshire. Here, he implemented a revolutionary approach to the treatment of spinal cord injuries, emphasizing the importance of physical activity and sports as part of rehabilitation.

Founding of the Paralympic Games

Tony South receives 1968 gold medal

In 1948, Guttmann organized the first Stoke Mandeville Games, a sports competition for wheelchair athletes, which coincided with the 1948 Summer Olympics in London. This event is widely regarded as the precursor to the modern Paralympic Games.

The Stoke Mandeville Games grew in size and scope, eventually becoming an international event. In 1960, the first official Paralympic Games were held in Rome, Italy, with Guttmann playing a key role in their organization.

Legacy and Honors

Guttmann's work had a profound impact on the treatment of spinal cord injuries and the development of sports for people with disabilities. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1966 for his contributions to medicine and society.

Stamp commemorating Ludwig Guttmann

Guttmann's legacy continues through the ongoing success of the Paralympic Games and the many lives improved by his innovative approaches to rehabilitation.

Related Pages

• Paralympic Games
• Stoke Mandeville Hospital
• Spinal cord injury