[1] For most of the five years before his retirement he had featured sparingly at an international level due to injuries.

Schumann, born in Bad Frankenhausen, began his career as a footballer in 1984 before switching to athletics.

At the European Championships in Budapest in the same year, he won the title in a close finish.

Favourite Wilson Kipketer of Denmark gained in the closing meters, but was unable to prevent a surprise victory by the German runner.

[3] That was the year in which he set up his own business: he also advertises his services as a personal trainer, based in Erfurt.