Dirk Richter

Dirk Richter in the GDR Swimming Championships in Dresden ( 1990)

Dirk Richter ( born September 12, 1964 in Cottbus ) is a German former swimmer who competed for East Germany and later also for the all-German team.

He originally wanted to be a football player, but his parents decided that he should be float because of the lower risk of injury. He had his first international appearances in 1981 at the European Championships, where he won the bronze medal with the 4 × 100 meter medley relay.

His first major title he won at the World Championships 1982 in Guayaquil, when he was about 100 meters backstroke in European record time world champion.

In 1983, he was also European champion on the same route. With the GDR 4 × 200 meter freestyle relay, he won the silver and the 4 × 100 meter freestyle and Medley relays he won the bronze medal.

Other individual titles no longer were added later, one reason was the Olympic boycott the GDR at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Only in the relay 4 × 200 meter freestyle was inaugurated in 1986 in Madrid world and medley relay with the 4 × 100 meter 1987 he was European champion.

1985 at the European Championships won three silver medals judge the 100m backstroke and 4 × 100 meter freestyle, and 4 × 100 meter medley.

At the World Championships 1986 he was also still vice-world champion over 100 meters backstroke and the 4 × 100 meter freestyle relay. In 1987, he was still able to win the bronze medal in the 100 meters freestyle in addition to his title win with the freestyle relay, as well.

Just as with the Olympic Games in Barcelona, he swam in 1991, at the European Championships in Athens, already for the entire German team. He was three times European vice-champion in the 100 meters and 200 meters backstroke, as well as the 4 × 100 meter freestyle relay.

Judge finished his swimming career in 1992. In the GDR, he was several times awarded the Patriotic Order of Merit. In 1984 he was awarded the medal in gold. He was also honored in 1986 with the Star of People's Friendship in silver.