Eight Olympic medals define the career of Roland Matthes, who remained undefeated in all backstroke competitions entered between April 1967 and August 1974. His dominance established him as a premier athlete in the German Democratic Republic, eventually leading to a record of 19 world and 28 European records across backstroke, butterfly, and medley swimming disciplines.
Olympic and International Performance
Matthes represented the German Democratic Republic at the 1968, 1972, and 1976 Olympic Games. During his tenure, he secured four gold medals, two silver, and two bronze. His gold-medal performances included victories in the 100 m and 200 m backstroke at both the 1968 and 1972 events. In Montreal in 1976, he earned a bronze medal in the 100 m backstroke, standing as the only male swimmer from his country to medal at those games. His broader success included European titles in Barcelona in 1970 and Vienna in 1974, alongside world titles in Belgrade in 1973 and 1975.
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Beyond the pool, Matthes completed his education at the DHfK in Leipzig, where he studied sport sciences from 1970 to 1977. He later shifted his focus to medicine, studying at the University of Jena between 1978 and 1984. Following his graduation, he established a career as an orthopedic surgeon. His personal life included a marriage to Olympic swimmer Kornelia Ender in 1978, which ended in divorce in 1982. Matthes passed away on 20 December 2019 in Wertheim.
Recognition and Legacy
The East German public recognized his contributions by naming him Sportspersonality of the Year seven times, spanning the years 1967 through 1971, 1973, and 1975. Internationally, he was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1981. In 2006, he was further honoured with an induction into Germany's Sports Hall of Fame. Regarding allegations of state-sponsored doping within the East German athletic system, Matthes denied personal involvement, maintaining that his specific swimming club remained too small to participate in such state-operated programs.
Fast facts
- Born: 17 November 1950, Pößneck
- Died: 20 December 2019, Wertheim
- Primary Sport: Backstroke swimming
- Olympic Medals: 4 Gold, 2 Silver, 2 Bronze
- Inducted into International Swimming Hall of Fame: 1981
- Education: University of Jena, DHfK Leipzig
- Profession: Physician and surgeon
Questions readers ask
What medical field did Roland Matthes enter after swimming?
He worked as an orthopedic surgeon after completing his medical studies at the University of Jena.
Did Matthes face doping allegations?
He denied involvement in doping, stating his small swimming club was not part of the state government system.
Achievements
- Germany's Sports Hall of Fame
- International Swimming Hall of Fame
- East German Sportspersonality of the Year
- Competed at the 1976 Summer Olympics
- Competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics
