Herbert Klein (German pronunciation: [ˈhɛʁbɛʁt ˈklaɪ̯n](listen); 25 March 1923 – 25 September 2001) was a German swimmer. Competing in the 200 m breaststroke, he won the European title in 1950 and an Olympic bronze medal in 1952. During his career, he concurrently held two world records in the 200 m breaststroke in short course with a time of 2:27.3,[1] long course with a time of 2:34.4,[2] one world record in the 100 m breaststroke with a time of 1:05.5.[3] and a world record in the 500 m breaststroke with a time of 7:07.3. In 1950, he was elected German Sportspersonality of the year.[4]
FINA at the time recognized world records in the 200 m breaststroke that were set in either short course (25 meter) or long course (50 meter) pools. As a result, his world record (short course) with a time of 2:27.3 in the 200 m breaststroke set in 1951 was the only one widely known. His long course record set in 1950 with a time of 2:34.4, was preceded by Joe Verdeur in 1948 who swam with a time of 2:36.3 at the US Olympic Trials.
At the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, Finland, he easily qualified for the final of the 200-meter breaststroke. This was the first Olympics since 1936 in Berlin that German and Japanese athletes could compete as the 1940 and 1944 Olympics were cancelled and Germany and Japan were banned from participating in 1948. In the Olympic final, Klein was third behind Australian John Davies the gold medalist and American Bowen Stassforth. His world record in the 200 m breaststroke (long course) of 2:34.4 was equaled by John Davies in the final. Davies, Stassforth, and Klein were the only three swimmers in history to better 2:35 in the 200 m breaststroke (long course) prior to the bifurcation of the stroke in 1953.
He also competed at the 1956 Summer Olympics in the 200 m breaststroke. This was the first Olympics after the breaststroke stroke was bifurcated in 1953[5] into two strokes-the contemporary underwater breaststroke with a frog kick and the butterfly stroke with the over the water arm motion using the dolphin kick. Unfortunately, he was disqualified after finishing first in the second heat for using an illegal scissors kick in the breaststroke.[6]
During World War II Klein served as a combat swimmer in the German Kriegsmarine, he was captured near Rimini in September 1944 after an attack on Allied ships and became a prisoner of War. While a prisoner of war at POW Camp 115, Whitecross, St Columb Major in Cornwall England, he trained in a mud pool next to the camp. In 1947, after seeing posters plastered all around Cornwall regarding a swimming race, he petitioned his captors if he could enter the Cornwall Swimming Championships held in Fowey harbour. Initially, his British captors were skeptical of his abilities to even swim. After additional petitioning by his fellow prisoners, he was allowed to enter the race. He won by a substantial margin and was given a cardboard case as a prize. He was released a year later in 1948.[7]
The world record for the 200 meter breaststroke prior to the bifurcation of the butterfly breaststroke into separate strokes in 1953 could be accomplished in either short or long course pools. FINA recognized only one world record for the 200 meter breaststroke. The 1952 US Olympic Book lists the 200 meter breaststroke world record as belonging to Herbert Klein with a time of 2:27.3 who swam it in a short course pool. If records were measured as they are today in long and short course pools, John Davies tied Herbert Klein's long course world record of 2:34.4 set in 1950 at their 1952 Olympic final.
^Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. . Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 4 October 2016.
^"History of Butterfly – Fiji Swimming". FOX SPORTS PULSE.
International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame – Jewish Olympic medalists
March 07, 2023
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For persons of a similar name see Herbert Klein disambiguation Herbert Klein German pronunciation ˈhɛʁbɛʁt ˈklaɪ n listen 25 March 1923 25 September 2001 was a German swimmer Competing in the 200 m breaststroke he won the European title in 1950 and an Olympic bronze medal in 1952 During his career he concurrently held two world records in the 200 m breaststroke in short course with a time of 2 27 3 1 long course with a time of 2 34 4 2 one world record in the 100 m breaststroke with a time of 1 05 5 3 and a world record in the 500 m breaststroke with a time of 7 07 3 In 1950 he was elected German Sportspersonality of the year 4 Herbert KleinKlein in 1951Personal informationBorn25 March 1923Breslau Weimar RepublicDied25 September 2001 2001 09 26 aged 78 Munich GermanySportSportSwimmingEvent s Breaststroke butterflyClubVerein fur volkstumliches Schwimmen MunichMedal record Representing GermanyOlympic Games1952 Helsinki 200 m breaststrokeEuropean Championships1950 Vienna 200 m breaststrokeFINA at the time recognized world records in the 200 m breaststroke that were set in either short course 25 meter or long course 50 meter pools As a result his world record short course with a time of 2 27 3 in the 200 m breaststroke set in 1951 was the only one widely known His long course record set in 1950 with a time of 2 34 4 was preceded by Joe Verdeur in 1948 who swam with a time of 2 36 3 at the US Olympic Trials At the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki Finland he easily qualified for the final of the 200 meter breaststroke This was the first Olympics since 1936 in Berlin that German and Japanese athletes could compete as the 1940 and 1944 Olympics were cancelled and Germany and Japan were banned from participating in 1948 In the Olympic final Klein was third behind Australian John Davies the gold medalist and American Bowen Stassforth His world record in the 200 m breaststroke long course of 2 34 4 was equaled by John Davies in the final Davies Stassforth and Klein were the only three swimmers in history to better 2 35 in the 200 m breaststroke long course prior to the bifurcation of the stroke in 1953 He also competed at the 1956 Summer Olympics in the 200 m breaststroke This was the first Olympics after the breaststroke stroke was bifurcated in 1953 5 into two strokes the contemporary underwater breaststroke with a frog kick and the butterfly stroke with the over the water arm motion using the dolphin kick Unfortunately he was disqualified after finishing first in the second heat for using an illegal scissors kick in the breaststroke 6 During World War II Klein served as a combat swimmer in the German Kriegsmarine he was captured near Rimini in September 1944 after an attack on Allied ships and became a prisoner of War While a prisoner of war at POW Camp 115 Whitecross St Columb Major in Cornwall England he trained in a mud pool next to the camp In 1947 after seeing posters plastered all around Cornwall regarding a swimming race he petitioned his captors if he could enter the Cornwall Swimming Championships held in Fowey harbour Initially his British captors were skeptical of his abilities to even swim After additional petitioning by his fellow prisoners he was allowed to enter the race He won by a substantial margin and was given a cardboard case as a prize He was released a year later in 1948 7 Contents 1 Record Notes 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksRecord Notes EditThe world record for the 200 meter breaststroke prior to the bifurcation of the butterfly breaststroke into separate strokes in 1953 could be accomplished in either short or long course pools FINA recognized only one world record for the 200 meter breaststroke The 1952 US Olympic Book lists the 200 meter breaststroke world record as belonging to Herbert Klein with a time of 2 27 3 who swam it in a short course pool If records were measured as they are today in long and short course pools John Davies tied Herbert Klein s long course world record of 2 34 4 set in 1950 at their 1952 Olympic final See also EditList of select Jewish swimmers World record progression 200 metres breaststrokeRecordsPreceded byJoe Verdeur Men s 200 m breaststroke Short Course World record holder 8 June 9 1951 1953 Succeeded byStroke DiscontinuedPreceded byAlfred Nakache Men s 200 meter breaststrokeworld record holder long course 9 August 13 1950 1953 Succeeded byStroke Discontinued Shared with John DaviesReferences Edit Los Angeles Times 10 June 1951 Page B12 Es fehlt noch die Goldmedaille Archived 2017 04 27 at the Wayback Machine in Spiegel Online Es fehlt noch die Goldmedaille Archived 2017 04 27 at the Wayback Machine in Spiegel Online Evans Hilary Gjerde Arild Heijmans Jeroen Mallon Bill et al Herbert Klein Olympic Results Olympics at Sports Reference com Sports Reference LLC Archived from the original on 17 April 2020 Retrieved 4 October 2016 History of Butterfly Fiji Swimming FOX SPORTS PULSE New York Times 4 December 1956 Page 67 Es fehlt noch die Goldmedaille Archived 2017 04 27 at the Wayback Machine in Spiegel Online Los Angeles Times 10 June 1951 Page B12 Es fehlt noch die Goldmedaille in Spiegel OnlineExternal links EditInternational Jewish Sports Hall of Fame Jewish Olympic medalists Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Herbert Klein swimmer amp oldid 1080885080, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
