Bernhard BAIER

A law student, Baier was discovered as a water polo player during the 1935 Student Games in Budapest. He joined the German national team the following year, and played at the Berlin Olympics, where Germany placed second and won the silver medal. In the 43 games spanning his international career, he also played in the 1938 European Championships, again finishing second. With Wasserfreunde Hannover, he won four national titles (1936-1938 and 1948).

In 1940 he married gymnast and gold medal winner Trudi Meyer. After the war, Baier joined the government of Lower Saxony, but also became a sports administrator. From 1950 to 1960, he was president of the German Swimming Federation, and he was co-founder of the German Sports Federation. In 1986 he was awarded the Olympic Order in Silver.