POLE-VAULT legend Tim Lobinger has died aged 50 after battling cancer for six years.
The former world indoor king also picked up two silvers outdoors at the European Championships.
Tributes have poured in for the ex-Olympian, including from the world of football, where he became a trainer at Bundesliga giants RB Leipzig for four years.
Lobinger's family told German outlet BILD he "fell asleep peacefully in a small circle, he didn't lose the fight, he won it in his own way".
The Munich-born athlete was his country's first man to break the six-metre mark – in 1999.
And he was a popular figure throughout Germany during and after a pole-vaulting career that spanned two decades.
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Lobinger was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2017 and WELT say he was told by doctors in February last year that he was nearing the end of his life.
And after his death was announced, German long-distance runner Sabrina Mockenhaupt said: “Now you are no longer in pain. A lot of strength from your whole family.”
European Athletics posted on Twitter: “European Athletics is very saddened to hear of the death of German pole vault great Tim Lobinger at the age of 50.
“We would like to pass on our sympathies and condolences to his friends and family and the German athletics community.”
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And RB Leipzig will wear black armbands for Saturday's top-flight match at Wolfsburg after he helped train their superstar players for four years.
Leipzig coach Marco Rose said: "We are all very sad and affected.
"We express our deepest sympathy to the family and wish them a lot of strength. But the most important thing is that the family can rest now."
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