Fritz Thiedemann
 Thiedemann (right) at the 1952 Olympics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 3 March 1918 Weddinghusen, Schleswig-Holstein, German Empire | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 8 January 2000 (aged 81) Heide, Germany | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 166 cm (5 ft 5 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 64 kg (141 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Horse riding | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event | Show jumping | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Reiterverein Ditmarsia, Heide; RuFV Ziethen, Elmshorn | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Fritz Thiedemann (German pronunciation: [fʁɪt͡s ˈtiːdəˌman] ⓘ; 3 March 1918 – 8 January 2000) was a German equestrian, considered to be one of the greatest show jumpers of his time.[1]
Biography
[edit]Thiedemann was born as the son of a farmer. His riding talents became clear at a young age, but he could not display them internationally until after World War II. During the war, Theidemann commanded a cavalry unit and was captured and interned at a Russian prison camp by war's end.[1]
At the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, Thiedemann won medals in two equestrian disciplines, a feat since unequalled. He placed third in the dressage team event, and won another bronze medal in the individual jumping contest with his favourite horse Meteor, with which he would win all major prizes in his career.[1][2]
The following year, Thiedemann won a jumping silver at the World Championships in Paris. Winning another medal (bronze) in that event in 1956 in Aachen. That same year, he won a gold medal with the United Team of Germany in the 1956 Olympics in Stockholm, while just missing out on an individual medal with a fourth position.[2]
At the 1958 European Championships in Aachen, he took the title. Thiedemann was the flag-bearer of the United Team of Germany (composed of both East and West German athletes) at the 1960 Olympics in Rome. The United Team of Germany successfully defended their jumping title, Thiedemann winning his fourth Olympic medal. In addition, he placed 6th in the individual jumping competition.[2]
Thiedemann died in his birthplace Heide aged 81.[2] The Thiedemann rein is named after him.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Wallechinsky, David and Jaime Loucky (2008). The Complete Book of the Olympics – 2008 Edition. London: Aurum Press, Limited. pp. 574–5, 580–1, 591.
- ^ a b c d Fritz Thiedemann Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. sports-reference.com
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
- 1918 births
- 2000 deaths
- People from Heide
- Sportspeople from Schleswig-Holstein
- German show jumping riders
- German dressage riders
- Olympic equestrians for West Germany
- Olympic equestrians for the United Team of Germany
- Equestrians at the 1952 Summer Olympics
- German male equestrians
- Equestrians at the 1956 Summer Olympics
- Equestrians at the 1960 Summer Olympics
- Olympic gold medalists for the United Team of Germany
- Olympic bronze medalists for West Germany
- German prisoners of war in World War II held by the Soviet Union
- Olympic medalists in equestrian
- Recipients of the Silver Laurel Leaf
- Commanders Crosses of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
- People from the Province of Schleswig-Holstein
- Medalists at the 1960 Summer Olympics
- Medalists at the 1956 Summer Olympics
- Medalists at the 1952 Summer Olympics
- German Army officers of World War II
- 20th-century German sportsmen