Walter Bathe

Walter Bathe was a German breaststroke swimmer, born on 1 December 1892 and died on 18 September 1959, who won two Olympic gold medals at the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm, in the 200 metres and 400 metres breaststroke. His winning performances set Olympic records that stood until 1924. He began swimming at the age of eight to improve poor health and was an Olympic champion at nineteen. In 1910 he set two world records in the 100 metres breaststroke, at 1:18.4 and 1:17.5, and he kept racing until about 1930, collecting six national breaststroke championships, five Crown Prince Trophies and three River Oder swims over 7.5 kilometres. He was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1970.