Chris Berger

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Christiaan David (Chris) Berger (April 27, 1911 – September 12, 1965) was a Dutch athlete competing in the sprints.

Born in Amsterdam, Berger's career highlight was at the first European Championships in Athletics, held in 1934 in Turin. There he won both the 100 m and 200 m sprints and came in third with the Dutch team at the 4 x 100 metres relay. Originally the jury had declared the German athlete Erich Borchmeyer as winner of the 100 m, which lead to outrage among the spectators who had clearly seen Berger win the race. The jury was eventually convinced to delay its decision after the films of the finish would be available the next day, which showed Berger to have won indeed.

Earlier in 1934 Berger had equaled the world record on the 100 m (10.3 s) in Amsterdam. His best 200 m time (21.1 s), run in 1930, would remain the Dutch national record until 1965.

Berger participated twice at the Olympics without much success. Much was expected from the Dutch athletes in 1932, but after a 10-day voyage by boat and a week on the train they didn't play much of a role in Los Angeles. Berger was eliminated in both sprints in the semifinals. In 1936, Berger had passed his peak and was overshadowed in his own country by Tinus Osendarp and Wil van Beveren, while the Dutch relay team ended up dropping the baton in the finals.

In the period from 1930 until 1934 Chris Berger won eight Dutch titles, four in each sprint event. He ended his career in sports in 1943 and became supervisor of the Olympic Stadium in Amsterdam. He died in Amsterdam in 1965.

[edit] References

  • Heere, A. and Kappenburg, B. (2000) 1870 – 2000, 130 jaar atletiek in Nederland. Groenevelt b.v.
  • Bijkerk, T. (2004) Olympisch Oranje. De Vrieseborch

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