Gérard Blitz (sportsman)
Encyclopedia
Gérard Blitz was a Belgian
Olympic swimmer and water polo player during 1920s.http://www.databaseolympics.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=BLITZG%C9R01 Born in Amsterdam
, he was the younger brother of Maurice Blitz
, also a waterpolo player, and uncle of Gérard Blitz
who founded Club Med
in 1950.
Blitz was Jewish. In 1920 Summer Olympics
in Antwerp Blitz won medals in both swimming
and water polo
. He was third in the 100 m backstroke, and was a member of the Belgian team who won silver in the water polo tournament. His brother Maurice was also a member of that team.
On 16 September 1921 he set a new world record
for 400 m backstroke at 5:59.2, that lasted until 1927.
At 1924 Summer Olympics
in Paris
the Blitz brothers were still part of the Belgian water polo squad, that won another silver medal.
Twelve years later at the Berlin Games he won the bronze with the Belgium team. He played all seven matches. He was one of a number of Jewish athletes who won medals at the Nazi Olympics in Berlin in 1936.
In 1990 Blitz was inducted in the International Swimming Hall of Fame
. He died in 1979 in Ganshoren
.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
Olympic swimmer and water polo player during 1920s.http://www.databaseolympics.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=BLITZG%C9R01 Born in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, he was the younger brother of Maurice Blitz
Maurice Blitz
Maurice Blitz was a Belgian Olympic water polo player during 1920s.He was the older brother of sporting champion Gérard Blitz, and father of Gérard Blitz who founded Club Med in 1950....
, also a waterpolo player, and uncle of Gérard Blitz
Gérard Blitz (entrepreneur)
Gérard Blitz was a Belgian water polo player and Yogi.Born in Antwerp, he was the son of Maurice Blitz and nephew of Gérard Blitz, both members of the Belgian water polo national team who won Olympic medals....
who founded Club Med
Club Med
Club Méditerranée , commonly known as Club Med, is a French corporation of vacation resorts found in many parts of the world, usually in exotic locations. It is considered the original all-inclusive resort.-Foundation:...
in 1950.
Blitz was Jewish. In 1920 Summer Olympics
1920 Summer Olympics
The 1920 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event in 1920 in Antwerp, Belgium....
in Antwerp Blitz won medals in both swimming
Swimming (sport)
Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
and water polo
Water polo
Water polo is a team water sport. The playing team consists of six field players and one goalkeeper. The winner of the game is the team that scores more goals. Game play involves swimming, treading water , players passing the ball while being defended by opponents, and scoring by throwing into a...
. He was third in the 100 m backstroke, and was a member of the Belgian team who won silver in the water polo tournament. His brother Maurice was also a member of that team.
On 16 September 1921 he set a new world record
World record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
for 400 m backstroke at 5:59.2, that lasted until 1927.
At 1924 Summer Olympics
1924 Summer Olympics
The 1924 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the VIII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1924 in Paris, France...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
the Blitz brothers were still part of the Belgian water polo squad, that won another silver medal.
Twelve years later at the Berlin Games he won the bronze with the Belgium team. He played all seven matches. He was one of a number of Jewish athletes who won medals at the Nazi Olympics in Berlin in 1936.
In 1990 Blitz was inducted in the International Swimming Hall of Fame
International Swimming Hall of Fame
The International Swimming Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame, located at One Hall of Fame Drive, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of swimming in the United States and around...
. He died in 1979 in Ganshoren
Ganshoren
Ganshoren is one of the nineteen municipalities located in the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium. On January 1, 2006 the municipality had a total population of 20,970. The total area is 2.46 km² which gives a population density of 8,541 inhabitants per km².-Pronunciation:* French: * Dutch:...
.
See also
- List of select Jewish swimmers
- List of select Jewish water polo players