Hans Maier
{{Short description|Dutch water polo player (1916–2018)}}
{{for|the Olympic rower|Hans Maier (rower)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
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| sport = Water polo
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| birth_date = {{birth date|1916|7|11|df=y}}
| birth_place = Madiun, Dutch East Indies
| death_date ={{death date and age|2018|11|29|1916|7|11|df=y}}
| death_place =The Hague, The Netherlands
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{{MedalCountry|{{flagu|Netherlands}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|European Championships}}
{{MedalBronze|1938 London|Team competition}}
}}
Hans Maier (11 July 1916 – 29 November 2018) was a Dutch water polo player who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics.{{cite web|title=Hans Maier Bio, Stats, and Results|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ma/hans-maier-2.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418002029/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ma/hans-maier-2.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 April 2020|website=Olympics at Sports-Reference.com|accessdate=13 October 2017|language=en}}{{cite web|title=Hans Maier over sport en familiegevoel bij onze Sociëteit {{!}} Vereniging met een groot hart voor het Olympisch Stadion en voor sport|url=http://www.societeitolympischstadion.nl/hans-maier-over-sport-en-familiegevoel-bij-onze-societeit/|website=www.societeitolympischstadion.nl|accessdate=13 October 2017|language=nl}} Born in Madioen, Dutch East Indies, he was part of the Dutch team which finished fifth in the 1936 tournament, playing in all seven matches. He died in November 2018 at the age of 102.[http://www.olympischsporterfgoed.nl/oudste-nederlandse-olympier-hans-maier-overleden Oudste Nederlandse Olympiër Hans Maier overleden]
Biography
Maier grew up in the Dutch East Indies and started his sports career as a swimmer. In the breaststroke, he used a different kick that allowed him to swim faster than many of his competitors. In June 1935, he broke the Dutch record in the 100 meter breaststroke by four seconds.Auke Kok (2016). 1936: We gingen naar Berlijn. Amsterdam: Uitgeverij Thomas Rap, p.55-62 The jury subsequently considered whether the record should be recognized. Because nowhere in the regulations did it say that the technique Maier used was not allowed, the record was recognized. Due to the discussion surrounding his swimming technique, Maier was not included in match selections for international tournaments.
In the winter of 1935-36, water polo coach Frans Kuyper saw Maier play in the third team of Het Y in Amsterdam. He noticed that Maier rose high above the water and was therefore good at intercepting balls. Maier then included Maier in the national selection that was preparing for the Games in Berlin. During the tournament, Maier played all seven matches. The team eventually finished in fifth place.
After his studies in economics, he started working as executive secretary at Van Gend & Loos in Utrecht. In 1946, he joined Shell and later became financial manager of the chemical branch of Shell.[http://www.zpcwoerden.nl/index.php/home/nieuws-algemeen/knzb-nieuwsbrief/59-nieuwsbrief-4-oktober-2013 Historie] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820233451/http://www.zpcwoerden.nl/index.php/home/nieuws-algemeen/knzb-nieuwsbrief/59-nieuwsbrief-4-oktober-2013 |date=20 August 2016 }}, Zwem & Polo Club Woerden (Nieuwsbrief 4 oktober 2013)
Maier married in 1944Familiebericht in het Algemeen Handelsblad, 28 juni 1944. and had two daughters.{{Cite web| last = Velthuis| first = Rob| title = Hans Maier (1916-2018): 102 jaar oud en nog steeds de wereld aan het verbeteren| work = Trouw| access-date = 10 November 2023| date = 14 January 2019| url = https://www.trouw.nl/nieuws/hans-maier-1916-2018-102-jaar-oud-en-nog-steeds-de-wereld-aan-het-verbeteren~bae754ef/| language = nl}} In July 2016, De Volkskrant called him the very last living Dutch participant of the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin. Hans Maier passed away on 29 November 2018.{{Cite web |last=Walsum |first=Sander van |date=8 July 2016 |title='We zijn vergeten wat fair play is' |url=https://www.volkskrant.nl/sport/we-zijn-vergeten-wat-fair-play-is~b32a226b/ |access-date=28 April 2023 |website=de Volkskrant |language=nl-NL}}
References
{{reflist}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20200418002029/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ma/hans-maier-2.html Hans Maier's profile at Sports Reference.com]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Maier, Hans}}
Category:Dutch men centenarians
Category:Dutch male water polo players
Category:Olympic water polo players for the Netherlands
Category:Water polo players at the 1936 Summer Olympics
Category:Dutch people of the Dutch East Indies
Category:European Water Polo Championship medalists
Category:20th-century Dutch sportsmen
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