Gerhard Hetz facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Gerhard Hetz

Gerhard Hetz in 1962
Personal information
Nationality	German
Born	(1942-07-13)13 July 1942 Hof, Bavaria, Germany
Died	19 May 2012(2012-05-19) (aged 69) Barra de Navidad, Jalisco, Mexico
Height	1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight	70 kg (150 lb)
Sport
Sport	Swimming
Club	SV Hof, Hof an der Saale
Medal record Men’s swimming Representing  Germany Olympic Games Silver 1964 Tokyo 4×200 m freestyle relay Bronze 1964 Tokyo 400 metre individual medley

Gerhard Hetz was a talented German swimmer. He was born on July 13, 1942, and passed away on May 19, 2012. He became famous for his amazing skills in the pool.

Gerhard competed in two Olympic Games, which are huge international sports events. He swam in the 1960 Olympics and again in the 1964 Olympics. At the 1964 Games in Tokyo, he won two important medals for his country.

Gerhard Hetz: A Swimming Star

Gerhard Hetz was a top swimmer from Germany. He showed great promise from a young age. His dedication to swimming helped him reach the highest levels of the sport.

Olympic Achievements

Gerhard Hetz proudly represented Germany at the Olympic Games. He competed in the 1960 Rome Olympics. Four years later, he went to the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.

At the 1964 Games, he earned a silver medal in the 4 × 200 meter freestyle relay. This is a team event where four swimmers each swim 200 meters using the freestyle stroke. He also won a bronze medal in the 400 meter individual medley. The individual medley is a challenging race where a swimmer uses all four swimming strokes: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle.

Setting World Records

Gerhard Hetz was not just an Olympic medalist; he was also a world record holder. He set two world records in the 400 meter individual medley. He achieved his first record in 1962 and another in 1963. This showed he was one of the best swimmers in the world at that time.

In 1962, his achievements were recognized in Germany. He was chosen as the German Sportspersonality of the Year. This award celebrates the best athlete in Germany for that year.

Life After Competition

After he stopped competing, Gerhard Hetz became a very successful swimming coach. He helped many other swimmers improve their skills. He coached at several clubs, including Blau-Weiß Bochum and SSF Bonn. Later, he coached at SV Rhenania Köln for many years.

Some of the famous swimmers he trained include Rainer Henkel, Werner Lampe, and Peter Sitt. He helped these athletes become strong competitors. Gerhard Hetz later moved to Barra de Navidad, Jalisco, Mexico. There, he ran a hotel with his wife. They had three children.