Fritz Thiedemann (; 3 March 1918 – 8 January 2000) was a German equestrian, 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 cavalry unit and was captured and interred at a

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n prison camp by war's end. At the

1952 Olympics 1952 Olympics refers to both: *The 1952 Winter Olympics, which were held in Oslo, Norway *The 1952 Summer Olympics The 1952 Summer Olympics ( fi, Kesäolympialaiset 1952; sv, Olympiska sommarspelen 1952), officially known as the Games of the X ...

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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 Aachen. 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 ...

in the

1956 Olympics 1956 Olympics refers to both: *The 1956 Winter Olympics, which were held in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy *The 1956 Summer Olympics The 1956 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVI Olympiad, were an international multi-sport even ...

in Stockholm, 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 The 1960 Olympics may refer to: *The 1960 Winter Olympics, which were held in Squaw Valley, United States *The 1960 Summer Olympics The 1960 Summer Olympics ( it, Giochi Olimpici estivi del 1960), officially known as the Games of the XVII Olympi ...

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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 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