Heinz Kluetmeier, a renowned photojournalist famous for his unforgettable Olympic imagery, passed away at the age of 82. His illustrious portfolio includes the iconic photograph from the 1980 Winter Olympics dubbed the “Miracle On Ice” and the dramatic capture of Michael Phelps’ close finish in the 2008 Olympics. The cause of his death on Tuesday was complications arising from Parkinson’s disease and a stroke, as reported by Sports Illustrated, his long-term employer. Kluetmeier was celebrated for being a trailblazer in pioneering remote and underwater camera techniques.
“He left a significant impression on everyone he encountered,” remarked Jeff Kavanaugh, a New York City-based photographer who collaborated with Kluetmeier for several decades. “His legacy is remembered not only through his extensive body of work but also through his relentless drive, determination, and the sheer brilliance of many of his engineered concepts.” Kavanaugh emphasized that Kluetmeier’s contributions to the field of sports photography are among the many reasons he will be remembered.
Born in Germany in 1942, Kluetmeier immigrated with his family to Milwaukee when he was just nine years old. His journey into photojournalism started when images of him alongside his pet parakeet, Chirpy, were showcased by The Associated Press. By the tender age of 15, he was already capturing images for the AP, using a Nikon S camera gifted by his parents, and soon began freelancing for the AP and the Milwaukee Journal.
One of his early memorable experiences occurred while he was endeavoring to photograph the Green Bay Packers at their training camp. Kluetmeier recalled an encounter with the legendary coach Vince Lombardi when he strolled into the cafeteria with a camera. Lombardi, seemingly taken aback, questioned Kluetmeier’s presence, leading to an impromptu photo session with star players Bart Starr, Paul Hornung, and Jim Taylor. “I was in shock. You can’t even picture something like that happening now,” Kluetmeier later said.
Kluetmeier joined the Journal staff shortly thereafter, and by 1969, he was recruited by Time Inc. to contribute to both Life and Sports Illustrated. His career spanned numerous Olympic Games starting in 1972, including his notable first SI cover featuring Olympic swimmer Mark Spitz, who won seven gold medals. Kluetmeier’s extensive work encompassed significant events like the Super Bowl, the World Series, Kentucky Derby, and Indy 500, alongside capturing moments with President John F. Kennedy during his campaign.
However, it was his unparalleled Olympic imagery that truly defined his legacy. A standout photograph depicting the U.S. team’s joyous victory over the Soviet Union during the Lake Placid Games became one of the most iconic sports images of the 20th century, earning its place on the cover of Sports Illustrated devoid of any accompanying text.
Notably, Kluetmeier, who held an engineering degree, was a pioneer in utilizing underwater cameras. He first applied this technology during the world swimming championships held in Perth, Australia, in 1991, and by the time of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, he had mastered the technique. His expertise produced crucial frame-by-frame images that conclusively showed Phelps narrowly defeating Milorad Cavic in the 100-meter butterfly.
Kavanaugh recounted the intensity of that moment, noting that despite the chaotic environment, Kluetmeier’s intuition told him it would become an iconic event. “We were in the perfect spot for that occurrence, and with a bit of luck, we managed to capture those vital moments.”
In recognition of his talent and contributions, Kluetmeier received the Lucy Award for lifetime achievement as a photographer in 2007 and was inducted into the Swimming Hall of Fame in 2017 for his invaluable contributions to the sport.
