Frank Pfütze

Frank puddle (right) with Ulrike Richter at the East German Swimming Championships in Leipzig ( 1977)

Frank puddle ( born January 15, 1959 in Rostock, † January 20, 1991 in Berlin) was a swimmer from the German Democratic Republic.

Career

Puddle was at the European Championships in Vienna in 1974 with a new European record time European champion in the 1500 meters freestyle, a year later he won the bronze medal over 400 meters freestyle at the World Championships in Cali. This year he improved in Berlin, the European record in the 400m freestyle.

In his time the Freestyle long distance were very competitive, and there were up to five swimmers for the title at the World Championships or Olympic Games in question. At the Olympic Games in Montreal in 1976, he was with the 4 × 200 m freestyle relay the GDR still fifth, rather it four years later, at the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow, won the silver medal over this distance. In the same year he was awarded the Patriotic Order of Merit in bronze.

Frank puddle died in 1991 from heart failure. He left behind a wife and three year old son.

It has been speculated that the administration of performance-enhancing substances would be the reason for the early death of Frank Pfützes during his days as a competitive athlete. The trigger for heart failure Frank Pfützes applies a blood clot that brought be too small for a power athlete's heart to a halt.