Fritz Dennerlein

Fritz Dennerlein

Personal information
Born	14 March 1936 Portici, Naples, Italy
Died	3 October 1992 (aged 56) Naples, Italy
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight	92 kg (203 lb)
Sport
Sport	Swimming, water polo
Club	Circolo Canottieri, Naples
Medal record Representing Italy Swimming 1958 Budapest 4×200 m freestyle 1958 Budapest 4×100 m medley Mediterranean Games 1959 Beirut 200 m butterfly 1959 Beirut 4×100 m medley 1959 Beirut 4×200 m freestyle 1963 Naples 200 m butterfly Water polo Mediterranean Games 1955 Barcelona Team 1959 Beirut Team 1963 Naples Team

Federico "Fritz" Dennerlein (14 March 1936 – 3 October 1992) was an Italian freestyle and butterfly swimmer and water polo player who competed in the 1956, 1960 and 1964 Summer Olympics. He finished fourth in the water polo tournaments in 1956 and 1964, and in the 200 m butterfly event in 1960. He also reached the finals of the 4 × 200 m freestyle (1956) and 4 × 100 m medley (1960) relays.

Dennerlein was born to a German father and Romanian mother; he had an elder brother Costantino, also a competitive swimmer. Between 1959 and 1962 he set five European records in the 100 and 200 m butterfly events. He aimed for a butterfly medal at the 1960 Olympics, and therefore gave up his place in the Olympic water polo team. After retiring from competitions he worked as a coach in his native Naples. Since 1984 he trained the national water polo team, bringing it to a silver medal at the 1986 World Championships. He died in a traffic accident, and was buried in the English Cemetery, Naples.