Walter Brack

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games • Non-starter
SexMale
Full nameCarl Emil Walter•Brack
Used nameWalter•Brack
Born20 December 1880 in Berlin, Berlin (GER)
Died20 October 1919 in Berlin, Berlin (GER)
AffiliationsCharlottenburger SV, Berlin (GER)
NOC Germany
Medals OG
Gold 1
Silver 1
Bronze 0
Total 2

Biography

Walter Brack, a swimmer from Berlin, won the gold medal in the 100 yard backstroke with a time of 1:16.8. This was the first time the 100 back was swum in Olympic competition as there was no backstroke in 1896 and only a 200 backstroke in 1900. Brack used the underwater recovery style with his arms and legs, similar to the elementary backstroke of today. Brack also competed in the 440 yard breaststroke, and won a silver medal behind fellow teammate, Georg Zacharias, who finished in 7:23.6, and ahead of USA’s Jam Handy from Chicago, who later became the last surviving medalist of the 1904 Olympic Games. In 1903 and 1904 Brack was German Champion in the 100 metre backstroke. In 1997 he was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1904 Summer Olympics Swimming (Aquatics) GER Walter Brack
50 yards Freestyle, Men (Olympic) DNS
4 × 50 yards Freestyle Relay, Men (Olympic) Germany DNS
100 yards Backstroke, Men (Olympic) 1 Gold
440 yards Breaststroke, Men (Olympic) 2 Silver
1908 Summer Olympics Swimming (Aquatics) GER Walter Brack
100 metres Backstroke, Men (Olympic) DNS
200 metres Breaststroke, Men (Olympic) DNS