Roland Matthes is a retired German swimmer and the most successful backstroke swimmer of all times.
Career
He was trained by Marlies Grohe. He was selected East German Sportspersonality of the Year seven times, in 1967–1971, 1973 and 1975. In 1981 he was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
From 1970 to 1977 he studied sport sciences at DHfK in Lepizig and from 1978 to 1984 he studied medicine at the University of Jena.
After graduating he worked as orthopedic surgeon. He retired from swimming in 1976, and in May 1978 married Kornelia Ender, a fellow East German Olympic swimmer.
They divorced in 1982. However, Matthes denied any involvement in doping, claiming that his swimming club was too small to be part of the government system.
Achievements
Views
Two years later in 1975 he defended his world title in the 100 m backstroke.