German distance runner Stéphane Franke has died at the age of 47

The German athletics federation (DLV) has announced that the well-known former distance runner Stéphane Franke died at the age of 47 from lymphoma cancer last Thursday.

His funeral was on Tuesday in his home town of Potsdam.

Franke won bronze medals over 10.000m at both the 1994 and 1998 European Athletics Championships, the latter being his last major championship.

On a global stage, he went close to getting on the podium when he finished fourth in the 1993 World Championships 10000m. He had personal bests for 5000m and 10000m of 13:03.76 and 27:48.88, both set in 1995. Over the shorter distance, he was the second fastest European that year.

He retired as an international athlete at the end of 2000 but kept a close involvement in the sport, working as a coach and also a writer.

Franke was a familiar voice to German athletics fans as a commentator for Eurosport, and was working for them at the 2011 European Athletics Indoor Championships.

European Athletics passes on its sincere condolences to Franke’s family and many friends.