Fritz Thiedemann (; 3 March 1918 – 8 January 2000) was a German

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, considered to be one of the greatest show jumpers of his time.

Biography

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

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. During the war, Theidemann commanded a

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unit and was captured and interred at a

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n prison camp by war's end. At the 1952 Olympics in

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, 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. The following year, Thiedemann won a jumping silver at the

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. Winning another medal (bronze) in that event in 1956 in

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. That same year, he won a gold medal with the

United Team of Germany The United Team of Germany (german: Gesamtdeutsche Mannschaft) was a combined team of athletes from West Germany and East Germany that competed in the 1956, 1960 and 1964 Winter and Summer Olympic Games. In 1956, the team also included athletes f ...

in the 1956 Olympics in

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, while just missing out on an individual medal with a fourth position. At the 1958 European Championships in Aachen, he took the title. Thiedemann was the flag-bearer of the

(composed of both East and West German athletes) at the 1960 Olympics in

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. The

successfully defended their jumping title, Thiedemann winning his fourth Olympic medal. In addition, he placed 6th in the individual jumping competition. Thiedemann died in his birthplace

Heide Heide (; Holsatian: ''Heid'') is a town in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is the capital of the ''Kreis'' (district) Dithmarschen. Population: 21,000. The German word ''Heide'' means "heath". In the 15th century four adjoining villages decided ...

aged 81. The Thiedemann rein is named after him.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Thiedemann, Fritz 1918 births 2000 deaths People from Heide Sportspeople from Schleswig-Holstein German show jumping riders German dressage riders Olympic equestrians of West Germany Olympic equestrians of 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