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Roland Matthes (born November 17, 1950 in Pößneck, Thuringia) is a former backstroke swimmer, who won a total number of eight Olympic medals for East Germany. He is considered to be one of the best backstroke swimmers of all time. He competed in three consequentive Summer Olympics, starting in 1968, when the Rolls Royce of Swimming won his first Olympic medals.
Matthes was undefeated in international competitions from 1967 to 1974. During his career he set 21 world records, and won three world and four European titles. Matthes was named East German Sportsman of the Year for seven times: 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973 and 1975. He retired after the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Canada, and married that year with fellow-swimmer Kornelia Ender. Six year later the couple got divorced. Matthes is currently living and working in Marktheidenfeld. He was inducted in the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1981.
External links
de:Roland Matthes
fr:Roland Matthes he:רולנד מאתס nl:Roland Matthes sv:Roland Matthes
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