Gerhard Hetz

Gerhard Hetz
Gerhard Hetz in 1962
Personal information
Full nameGerhard Hetz
NationalityGerman
Born(1942-07-13)13 July 1942
Hof, Bavaria, Germany
Died19 May 2012(2012-05-19) (aged 69)
Barra de Navidad, Jalisco, Mexico
Height1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight70 kg (150 lb)
Sport
SportSwimming
ClubSV Hof, Hof an der Saale
Medal record
Men's swimming
Representing  Germany
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 1964 Tokyo 4×200 m freestyle relay
Bronze medal – third place 1964 Tokyo 400 m individual medley

Gerhard Hetz (German pronunciation: [ˈɡeːɐ̯haʁt ˈhɛts] ; 13 July 1942 – 19 May 2012) was a German Olympic swimmer.[1] He competed in the 1960 and 1964 Summer Olympics and won a silver medal in the 4 × 200 m freestyle relay and a bronze medal in the 400 m individual medley in 1964.[2]

He set two world records in the 400 m individual medley, in 1962 and 1963. In 1962 he was selected as the German Sportspersonality of the Year. After retirement from competitions he became a successful swimming coach at Blau-Weiß Bochum, SSF Bonn (1968–1975) and then SV Rhenania Köln (1975–1991), training such swimmers as Rainer Henkel, Werner Lampe and Peter Sitt. However, he was also criticized for his harsh training methods. He died in Barra de Navidad, Jalisco, Mexico, where he was running a hotel with his wife. They had three children.[3]

References

  1. ^ "Frankenpost | Früherer Hofer Weltrekordler Gerhard Hetz tot". Frankenpost.de. Retrieved 2012-05-28.
  2. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Gerhard Hetz". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 24, 2009.
  3. ^ Felix Gmünder (14 July 2002). "Schwimm-Ikone Gerhard Hetz wurde 60 Jahre alt". Retrieved September 10, 2016.[dead link]. fsn.ch
Gerhard Hetz in 1963
Records
Preceded by Men's 400 metre individual medley
world record holder (long course)

May 20, 1962 – June 30, 1962
Succeeded by
Preceded by Men's 400 metre individual medley
world record holder (long course)

October 12, 1963 – July 31, 1964
Succeeded by