Jan Hempel (born 21 August 1971) is a German diver who competed at the

1988 1988 was a crucial year in the early history of the Internet—it was the year of the first well-known computer virus, the Morris worm, 1988 Internet worm. The first permanent intercontinental Internet link was made between the United State ...

1992 1992 was designated as International Space Year by the United Nations. Events January * January 1 – Boutros Boutros-Ghali of Egypt replaces Javier Pérez de Cuéllar of Peru as United Nations Secretary-General. * January 6 ** The Republ ...

1996 1996 was designated as: * International Year for the Eradication of Poverty Events January * January 8 – A Zairean cargo plane crashes into a crowded market in the center of the capital city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo ...

, and the

2000 Summer Olympics The 2000 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, officially branded as Sydney 2000, and also known as the Games of the New Millennium, were an international multi-sport event held from 15 September to 1 October ...

, winning two Olympic medals. Hempel won a silver in 10 m Platform and a bronze medal in 10 m synchronized platform. He also competed on the 3m springboard, scoring "the second best dive of all time" in Vienna in 1993.

Olympic career

1988

Hempel made his Olympic debut at age 17 in

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, where he placed fifth.

1992

Hempel returned to the Olympics in

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, but again did not medal, placing fourth.

1996

The third time was charm, as Hempel won silver in the 10 m platform, scoring 663.27. He saved his toughest dive for last. He nailed the back 1 somersault with 4 twists from the free position, earning 92.88 points. It was one of the two dives out of the 72 in the finals with a 3.6 degree of difficulty.

2000

In the inaugural men's 10 m synchronized platform event, Hempel, now 29, with partner Heiko Meyer won the bronze medal at the Sydney 2000 Games, earning Hempel his second medal in four Olympic appearances. Meyer and first-time Olympian Heiko Meyer began training together in 1998 and won the bronze medal at the World Championships later that year. The pair also won the event at the 1999 European Championships. Despite these achievements, Hempel came into the 2000 Games with modest expectations. Hempel stated, "If you had asked us before the competition, we wouldn't have thought we were a chance for a medal." However, the team pulled off a solid performance on the program's most difficult dive, a back 3 somersault tuck and reverse 3 somersault tuck, scoring 78.54. Hempel continued, "It has the most risk but it paid off for us."

Other appearances

European Diving Championships

In the European Diving Championships, Hempel had an illustrious career winning silver in 1987 in

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, France, bronze in 1989 in

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, Germany, gold in 1993 in

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, England, and silver in 1995 in

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, Austria. In 1997 in

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, Spain, Hempel finally won a European highboard diving gold 10 years after taking the first of three silvers on the 10-meter board. Hempel had been suffering from influenza for three days and considered pulling out of the competition. But he decided against it and was rewarded with the gold. "I'm happy it worked out at the sixth attempt", said Hempel. During the competition, he scored a rare perfect 10 mark. After taking the silver in 1987, 1989 and 1995 and bronze in 1993, he had finally added a highboard gold to the European three-meter springboard gold he won in 1993. At the 2003 Arena Diving Champions Cup in

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, Sweden, Hempel, now 32, was described as the man "who wrote diving history", citing the second best dive of all time in the Diving Champions Cup 3m finals performing a back 1 somersault with 3 twists in Vienna 1993, for a fantastic 87.36 points.

Synchronized diving

With Meyer, the synchronized pair continued to compete in the event at the World Championships, through at least 2001. They also competed separately on the men's 10 m platform. Hempel placed 4th at the 2001 Goodwill Games.

Personal life

Hempel is a father of two. In summer of 2022, he was diagnosed with

Alzheimer's disease Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease and the cause of 60–70% of cases of dementia. The most common early symptom is difficulty in remembering recent events. As the disease advances, symptoms can include problems wit ...

Sexual abuse allegations against coach

In August 2022, Hempel revealed that his long-term coach Werner Langer sexually abused him over the course of 14 years, commenting: "I was abused by my coach. He never missed a moment to give free rein to his desires... I just know that in the end I let him get away with it, because he would say things like: 'If you do that, you'll have the afternoon off.'" When he finally informed the German Swimming Association (DSV) they relieved the coach from duty but did not make the reason public or bring criminal charges. In March 2023, media reported that Hempel was suing the DSV for compensation.

References

External links

Profile Jan Hempel

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hempel, Jan 1971 births Living people German male divers Divers at the 1988 Summer Olympics Divers at the 1992 Summer Olympics Divers at the 1996 Summer Olympics Divers at the 2000 Summer Olympics Olympic divers for East Germany East German male divers Olympic divers for Germany Olympic silver medalists for Germany Olympic bronze medalists for Germany Divers from Dresden Olympic medalists in diving Medalists at the 2000 Summer Olympics Medalists at the 1996 Summer Olympics World Aquatics Championships medalists in diving European Aquatics Championships medalists in diving Competitors at the 2001 Goodwill Games 20th-century German sportsmen