Ernst-Joachim Küppers

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameErnst-Joachim•Küppers
Used nameErnst-Joachim•Küppers
Born24 August 1942 in Halle (Saale), Sachsen-Anhalt (GER)
Measurements196 cm / 98 kg
AffiliationsWaspo Nordhorn / Essen 06
NOC Germany
Nationality West Germany
Medals OG
Gold 0
Silver 1
Bronze 0
Total 1

Biography

Ernst-Joachim Küppers, son of Olympic swimmers Reni Erkens and Ernst Küppers, was on the mixed German team at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. He won a silver medal with the 4x100 medley relay and placed fifth in the individual 200 backstroke – as did his father in 1928 and 1932. Ernst-Joachim Küppers dominated backstroke swimming in West Germany in the 1950s and 1960s. He was unbeaten domestically from 1959 until 1967, and during his career Küppers won 20 West German titles, and set 70 German records and nine European ones. In 1964 he also set a world record in the 100 backstroke with 1:00.8, but it lasted only five days. In 1962 he was not allowed to participate at the 1962 Europeans in Leipzig – like all other West German swimmers – due to political reasons, as it was just after the Berlin Wall was built in 1961. Küppers later worked as a swimming coach.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal Nationality As
1964 Summer Olympics Swimming (Aquatics) GER FRG Ernst-Joachim Küppers
200 metres Backstroke, Men (Olympic) 5
4 × 100 metres Medley Relay, Men (Olympic) Unified Team of Germany 2 Silver

Olympic family relations

Special Notes