Born: 1926 (Gdansk, Poland)
Died: 2021 (Dortmund, Germany)
Biography:
Ursula Happe (German pronunciation: [ˈʊʁzula ˈhapə] (listen); 20 October 1926 – 26 March 2021) was a German swimmer and Olympic champion. She competed at the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne, where she won the gold medal in 200 m breaststroke. She also competed in the women’s 200 metre breaststroke at the 1952 Summer Olympics. Happe died in Dortmund on 26 March 2021 at the age of 94.
In the decade of the 1950s, Germany had one female standout in international swimming. Ursula Happe emerged as not only a great swimmer but also a homemaker and mother of two children. Her journey to success was not without its share of challenges and hardships.
Born in 1926 in Gdansk, Ursula, known as Ursel to her friends, showed early promise in swimming. She started swimming at the age of four and began participating in age group competitions as she grew older. Despite facing varied success in these early competitions, it was clear that she had the potential for greatness.
Ursula graduated from school in 1943, having swum for the Neptun Danzig Club. However, World War II brought significant upheaval and disruption to her life. She was called to serve in the Female Labour Service and later in the War Auxiliary Service. The war ultimately forced her family to flee from their home in Gdansk, and they settled in Schleswig-Holstein and Bremen in the western part of Germany.
Despite the hardships inflicted by the war, Ursula remained determined to pursue her passion for swimming. In 1949, after completing her war duty, she joined the Neptun Kiel Club. It was here that she won her first of 18 German national championships in breaststroke and butterfly.
The following year, in 1950, Ursula married her swim coach, Heinz Gunter Happe. The couple moved to Dortmund, where Ursula joined the swimming club Schwimmverein Westfalen 1996. She continued to dominate the German national championships, winning titles in the 100m and 200m breaststroke events.
In 1952, Ursula qualified to compete at the Helsinki Olympics. However, she faced defeat in the semi-final round. It was at this point that she made the decision to start her family. The following year, she welcomed her first child, a daughter named Gudrun.
Ursula’s love for swimming drew her back into the pool by 1954. She won the German national 200m breaststroke title and the newly recognized 100m butterfly title. At the 1954 European Championships in Taurin, she made history by becoming the first German swimmer to win the 200m breaststroke event since 1927, when Pioneer Hall of Famer Hilde Schrader achieved the same feat. Additionally, Ursula won the bronze medal in the inaugural 100m butterfly event. Her victory in this event marked the introduction of butterfly as a fourth stroke in international swimming competitions.
Ursula Happe’s achievements in swimming were remarkable, especially considering the challenges and struggles she faced throughout her life. Her dedication and determination made her Germany’s first post-war athletic hero and an inspiration to many.
Awards:
– 1956 Olympic Games: Gold medal in 200m breaststroke
– 1954 European Championships: Gold medal in 200m breaststroke, Bronze medal in 100m butterfly
– German National Championships (18): Titles in 100m and 200m breaststroke, 100m butterfly, and 4x100m breaststroke relay