German diver Kurt Behrens won a silver medal on springboard at the 1908 London Olympics. He also won bronze in the same event at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics, where he was eliminated in the first round of platform and plain high diving.
From 1910-21 Behrens worked as a trainer in New York, but competed in 1912 for Germany. In 1915 he was named, despite his absence, “Best swimmer of Hellas Magdeburg”, his home club. After his return in 1921 Behrens became sporting director of the club from 1922-28. Because of his contribution to Hellas in 1904 and his tragic fatal accident, from a heart arrhythmia, a “Kurt Behrens Memorial Swimming Award” was later presented to Magdeburg swimmers. Behrens was also the first manager of German first great international swimmer Erich Rademacher.
Germany