Gerhard Hetz

Gerhard Hetz

Gerhard Hetz in 1962
Personal information
Full name Gerhard Hetz
Nationality Germany
Born 13 July 1942
Hof, Bavaria, Germany.
Died 19 May 2012 (aged 69)
Barra de Navidad, Mexico
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight 70 kg (150 lb)
Sport
Sport Swimming
Club SV Hof, Hof an der Saale

Gerhard Hetz (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, Mexico, where he was running an 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. Gerhard Hetz. Sports Reference
  3. Felix Gmünder (14 July 2002). Schwimm-Ikone Gerhard Hetz wurde 60 Jahre alt at the Wayback Machine (archived September 27, 2007). fsn.ch
Gerhard Hetz in 1963
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Records
Preceded by
United States Ted Stickles
Men's 400 metre individual medley
world record holder (long course)

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

October 12, 1963 July 31, 1964
Succeeded by
United States Dick Roth