Hans Schwarz

Hans Schwarz trained as a coppersmith between 1927 and 1930. In 1932 he was employed as a pool attendant at the municipal baths in Halle on Saale. In 1933 he moved to Magdeburg and one year later he finished second in the 200m freestyle at the European Championships, and in the 100m backstroke finished fourth. The same year he captured his first National title in the 100m backstroke, which he defended in 1935 and 1936.

Schwarz failed to reach the 100m backstroke final at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. From 1945-48 he worked as a swimming coach in Magdeburg, and then fled to West Germany. There he worked as a swimming attendant in Neuwied and was engaged as a youth coach for Neuwieder Wassersportverein. He was also active as a very successful senior swimmer winning over 50 international titles and 136 German national titles. In 1978, he won the Senior World title in the 50m, 100m and 200m backstroke. He was considered a swimming legend.