Ernst Küppers
Encyclopedia
Ernst Küppers was a German
backstroke
swimmer who competed in the 1928 Summer Olympics
and in the 1932 Summer Olympics
. He was born in Viersen
and died in Nordhorn
. He was the husband of Reni Erkens
and the father of Ernst-Joachim Küppers.
In 1928 he finished fifth in the 100 metre backstroke competition
. Four years later he again finished fifth in the 100 metre backstroke event
at the 1932 Games.
Thinking Kuppers was likely to win the 100 metre backstroke at the 1934 European Championships
in Magdeburg, Hitler commissioned a large bronze eagle trophy for the race. This weighed over 50 kg and stood nearly a metre high. When John Besford
of England won the race, Hitler refused to present the trophy as intended and left the stadium, leaving one of his officials to present it instead to Küppers’ rival.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
backstroke
Backstroke
The backstroke, also sometimes called the back crawl, is one of the four swimming styles regulated by FINA, and the only regulated style swum on the back. This has the advantage of easy breathing, but the disadvantage of swimmers not being able to see where they are going. It is also the only...
swimmer who competed in the 1928 Summer Olympics
1928 Summer Olympics
The 1928 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the IX Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1928 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Amsterdam had bid for the 1920 and 1924 Olympic Games, but had to give way to war-victim Antwerp, Belgium, and Pierre de...
and in the 1932 Summer Olympics
1932 Summer Olympics
The 1932 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the X Olympiad, was a major world wide multi-athletic event which was celebrated in 1932 in Los Angeles, California, United States. No other cities made a bid to host these Olympics. Held during the worldwide Great Depression, many nations...
. He was born in Viersen
Viersen
Viersen is the capital of the district of Viersen, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.-Geography:Viersen is situated approximately 8 km north-west of Mönchengladbach, 15 km south-west of Krefeld and 20 km east of Venlo ....
and died in Nordhorn
Nordhorn
Nordhorn is the district seat of Grafschaft Bentheim in Lower Saxony's southwesternmost corner near the border with the Netherlands and the boundary with North Rhine-Westphalia.- Name's origin :...
. He was the husband of Reni Erkens
Reni Erkens
Renate "Reni" Erkens was a German freestyle swimmer who competed in the 1928 Summer Olympics.She was born in Oberhausen and was the wife of Ernst Küppers and the mother of Ernst-Joachim Küppers....
and the father of Ernst-Joachim Küppers.
In 1928 he finished fifth in the 100 metre backstroke competition
Swimming at the 1928 Summer Olympics - Men's 100 metre backstroke
The men's 100 metre backstroke was a swimming event held as part of the swimming at the 1928 Summer Olympics programme. It was the fifth appearance of the event, which was established in 1908...
. Four years later he again finished fifth in the 100 metre backstroke event
Swimming at the 1932 Summer Olympics - Men's 100 metre backstroke
The men's 100 metre backstroke was a swimming event held as part of the swimming at the 1932 Summer Olympics programme. It was the sixth appearance of the event, which was established in 1908...
at the 1932 Games.
Thinking Kuppers was likely to win the 100 metre backstroke at the 1934 European Championships
1934 European Aquatics Championships
The 1934 LEN European Aquatics Championships were held 12–19 August 1934 in Magdeburg, Germany .-Medal table:-Diving:Men's eventsWomen's events-Swimming:Men's eventsWomen's events-Water polo:...
in Magdeburg, Hitler commissioned a large bronze eagle trophy for the race. This weighed over 50 kg and stood nearly a metre high. When John Besford
John Besford
John "Jack" Charles Preston Besford OBE was a British backstroke swimmer.He was born in Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester and died in Spain.Besford was European 100 m backstroke champion in 1934...
of England won the race, Hitler refused to present the trophy as intended and left the stadium, leaving one of his officials to present it instead to Küppers’ rival.