Uwe DASSLER

Uwe Daßler was the world’s top middle-distance freestyler in the late 1980s. The high point of his career came at the 1988 Olympics, where he won a full set of medals. He won gold in the 400 freestyle with a world record 3:46.95, in a closely contested final which has often been termed “The Race of the Century”, as all three medalists, Daßler, Duncan Armstrong and Artur Wojdat swam faster than Wojdat’s world record. Daßler also won silver in the 4x200 freestyle and bronze in the 1,500 at the 1988 Olympics.

Besides his Olympic medals, Daßler won the 400 free silver at the 1986 World Championships, was European 400 m freestyle champion in 1985 and 1987, European 1,500 m freestyle champion in 1985, adding silvers in the 1,500 at the 1987 European Championships, and 4x200 free relay bronzes at the 1989 and 1991 European Championships. Domestically Daßler won various East German titles – 400 free in 1985-89, 1,500 in 1985 and 1987-88, and 4x200 free relay in 1990.

Daßler retired from sports after not making the 1992 German Olympic team. After finishing his sporting career, he launched a successful career in financing, and was the sales manager for financial agencies Deutsche Bank PGK AG, before establishing his own investment company ZinsPartner in 2013. Daßler was also a vice-president of the real estate firm Recona Living and owner of Uwe Daßler Consulting.