Roland Matthes
Encyclopedia
Roland Matthes is a German Olympic
backstroke
swimmer.
swimmer of all times. In a period of seven years (April 1967 to August 1974) he won all backstroke competitions he entered. He won four European Championships and three World Championships in a row, and swam 21 world records. Additionally he also held the European records in 100 meters freestyle
, 200 meters medley
, and 100 meters butterfly
. He was trained by Marlies Grohe.
As an Olympian in 1968 (Mexico), 1972 (München), and 1976 he won a total of eight medals (4 × Gold, 2 × Silver, 2 × Bronze): In the Olympic Games
from 1968 and 1972 he won Gold in both the 100 meters and the 200 meters backstroke, while in 1976 he won the Bronze medal in 100 meters backstroke. In addition to these individual events, he also won the 4 x 100 meters team medley Silver in 1968 and 1972, and a Bronze medal for the 4 x 100 meters team freestyle event.
In 1973 in Belgrade
he became the first World Champion holding the titles in both the 100 meters and 200 meters backstroke. Additionally he won Silver in the 4 x 100 meters team medley and Bronze in the 4 x 100 meters team freestyle.
Two years later in 1975 he successfully defended his world title in 100 meters backstroke in Cali, Colombia
.
In the European Championships in 1970 in Barcelona and 1974 in Vienna he won all four titles for the 100 and 200 meters backstroke. Additionally, in Barcelona he won the individual Silver for 100 meters freestyle, Gold with the 4 x 100 meters team medley, and Bronze with both the 4 x 100 meters and 4 x 200 freestyle teams. In Vienna, he also won the individual Silver for 100 meters butterfly, and Bronze with the 4 x 100 meters team freestyle.
In the years 1967 to 1971, and in 1973 and 1975, for a total of seven times, he was elected Athlete of the Year in the former German Democratic Republic. 1981 he was entered into the International Swimming Hall of Fame
.
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
backstroke
Backstroke
The backstroke, also sometimes called the back crawl, is one of the four swimming styles regulated by FINA, and the only regulated style swum on the back. This has the advantage of easy breathing, but the disadvantage of swimmers not being able to see where they are going. It is also the only...
swimmer.
Swimming career
Roland Matthes is the most successful backstrokeBackstroke
The backstroke, also sometimes called the back crawl, is one of the four swimming styles regulated by FINA, and the only regulated style swum on the back. This has the advantage of easy breathing, but the disadvantage of swimmers not being able to see where they are going. It is also the only...
swimmer of all times. In a period of seven years (April 1967 to August 1974) he won all backstroke competitions he entered. He won four European Championships and three World Championships in a row, and swam 21 world records. Additionally he also held the European records in 100 meters freestyle
Freestyle swimming
Freestyle is an unregulated swimming style used in swimming competitions according to the rules of FINA. The front crawl stroke is almost universally used during a freestyle race, as this style is generally the fastest...
, 200 meters medley
Medley swimming
Medley is a combination of four different swimming styles into one race. This race is either swum by one swimmer as individual medley or by four swimmers as a medley relay...
, and 100 meters butterfly
Butterfly stroke
The butterfly is a swimming stroke swum on the breast, with both arms moving simultaneously. The butterfly kick was developed separately, and is also known as the "dolphin kick"...
. He was trained by Marlies Grohe.
As an Olympian in 1968 (Mexico), 1972 (München), and 1976 he won a total of eight medals (4 × Gold, 2 × Silver, 2 × Bronze): In the Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
from 1968 and 1972 he won Gold in both the 100 meters and the 200 meters backstroke, while in 1976 he won the Bronze medal in 100 meters backstroke. In addition to these individual events, he also won the 4 x 100 meters team medley Silver in 1968 and 1972, and a Bronze medal for the 4 x 100 meters team freestyle event.
In 1973 in Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
he became the first World Champion holding the titles in both the 100 meters and 200 meters backstroke. Additionally he won Silver in the 4 x 100 meters team medley and Bronze in the 4 x 100 meters team freestyle.
Two years later in 1975 he successfully defended his world title in 100 meters backstroke in Cali, Colombia
Santiago de Cali
Santiago de Cali , simply referred to as Cali, is a city in western Colombia and the capital of the Valle del Cauca Department. With a population of 2.5 million, Cali is the third largest city in the country. It has one of the fastest growing economies and infrastructure in the country because...
.
In the European Championships in 1970 in Barcelona and 1974 in Vienna he won all four titles for the 100 and 200 meters backstroke. Additionally, in Barcelona he won the individual Silver for 100 meters freestyle, Gold with the 4 x 100 meters team medley, and Bronze with both the 4 x 100 meters and 4 x 200 freestyle teams. In Vienna, he also won the individual Silver for 100 meters butterfly, and Bronze with the 4 x 100 meters team freestyle.
In the years 1967 to 1971, and in 1973 and 1975, for a total of seven times, he was elected Athlete of the Year in the former German Democratic Republic. 1981 he was entered into the International Swimming Hall of Fame
International Swimming Hall of Fame
The International Swimming Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame, located at One Hall of Fame Drive, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of swimming in the United States and around...
.