Otto Herschmann

Otto Herschmann (born 4 January 1877 in Vienna, † 1942 in the ghetto Izbica ), was an Austrian swimmer, fencer and sports official. He was one of the few athletes who won Olympic medals in different sports.

Sporting successes

At the Olympics 1896 he won the silver medal in swimming the 100m freestyle. In 1912, he took with the Austrian team the silver medal in saber fencing. In the individual competition he was eliminated in the first round.

Special

For his participation in the Olympic Games in Stockholm in 1912 he was also President of the Austrian Olympic Committee ( ÖOC ). He is still the only president of the National Olympic Committee, who won an Olympic medal during his tenure.

Life

He holds a doctorate lawyer was after his presidency when ÖOC 1914-1932 President of the Association of Austrian swimming clubs. Otto Herschmann was deported because of his Jewish ancestry on 14 January 1942 by the Nazis in the extermination camp Sobibor. He died the same year in the transit camp Izbica.

On 7 November 2001, the Otto - Heřmanův street was named in Vienna Simmering ( 11th district ) after him.