Roland Matthes

Roland Matthes, born on 17 November 1950 and died on 20 December 2019, was a German swimmer widely regarded as the most successful backstroke swimmer of all time. Between April 1967 and August 1974 he won every backstroke competition he entered, and he swam 19 world records and 28 European records across backstroke, butterfly and medley events. At the Olympic Games of 1968, 1972 and 1976 he won eight medals, four gold, two silver and two bronze, including gold in both the 100 m and 200 m backstroke in 1968 and again in 1972. He won four European championships and three world championships in a row and was named East German Sportspersonality of the Year seven times. He was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1981 and later worked as an orthopedic surgeon after studying sport sciences and medicine.