As the creator of the Sport Goofy Trophy, Horst Koblischek took Disney’s name from the tennis courts of Europe to the former Soviet Union. Beginning in 1981, and inspired by a similar program called “Trophy Topolino” in Italy, Horst developed the junior tennis tournament for German children under 14.

The tournament quickly spread throughout Europe and the world with open championships held in Monte Carlo in 1982 as well as Moscow in 1990. Such future champs as Steffi Graf, Monica Seles, and Michael Chang made their debuts on the Sport Goofy tennis courts.

Bo Boyd, then president of Disney Consumer Products, recalled, “Horst was the father of Sport Goofy. His concept was impressive and incredibly successful.”

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