Fred van Dorp

Born in the Dutch East Indies - present-day Indonesia - Fred van Dorp was 3 when the Japanese occupied the country, putting him in an internment camp with his mother and brother, Ton, while his father was put to work on the infamous Burma Railway. After the war, the family spent several years in the United States, before settling in the Netherlands when Fred is 13. With his brother, he then discovered water polo, joining AZ&PC in Amersfoort. Both quickly make it to the first team.

Less than two years later, Fred is already called up for his first international match. He was also selected for the 1956 Olympics in Melbourne, but never played as the Dutch withdrew from the Games over the Soviet crushing of the Hungarian revolt. Fred would more than make up for this by competing at the 1960, 1964 and 1968 Games. At the latter Games, he also carried the flag during the opening ceremony. Van Dorp’s appearance in 1964 was the most notable, as in the preliminary round he faced his brother. Now known as Tony van Dorp, he had moved to the US in 1959 and played as a goalkeeper for that country at the 1964 and 1968 Olympics. Fred scored once against his brother, but Tony also stopped penalty shot. It was only the second time in history that brothers competed against each other at the Olympics for different nations, and the first time at the Summer Games.

In total, Fred van Dorp played 151 international matches, including at the 1958, 1962 and 1966 European Championships. After his playing years, Van Dorp became a referee. He appeared at five more Olympics (1976-1992) in that role, overseeing the bronze medal match in Seoul and the final in Barcelona.