Gerhard Hetz
FullnameGerhard Hetz
NationalityGerman
ClubSV Hof, Hof an der Saale
Birth date13 July 1942
Birth placeHof, Bavaria, Germany
Death date19 May 2012 (aged 69)
Death placeBarra de Navidad, Jalisco, Mexico
Height1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight70 kg (150 lb)
Show-medalsyes

Gerhard Hetz (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. ^ "www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/he/gerhard-hetz-1.html". 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