< back
Paul BIEDERMANN
Sport Swimming
NOC Germany   
GenderMen
Born07 Aug 1986 in Halle, GDR
Height1.93 m
Weight 97 kg
 Human Interest 
Further Personal Information
Residence
 Halle, GER
General Interest
Injuries
 He suffered from the flu in the months leading up to the 2013 German world championship trials and did not take part in them due to a lack of training. He was therefore left off the list for the 2013 World Championships in Barcelona, Spain. (swimmingworldmagazine.com, 30 Apr 2013)

He suffered a thigh injury in November 2009 which kept him out of competition for a month. (AP, 03 Nov 2009)

He missed the 2004 German National Championships because he had to have his appendix removed. (ssc-karlsruhe.de, 14 Jun 2005)
Hero / Idol
 Australian swimmer Ian Thorpe and German weightlifter Matthias Steiner. (arenainternational.com, 31 Jul 2011)
Awards and honours
 He was named Germany's 2009 Sportsman of the Year. (FINA Aquatic World Magazine, 01 Feb 2010)

Named Sportsman of the Year in the town of Halle, Germany for 2006. (halsport.de, 31 Jan 2007)
International Debut
Year
 2005
General Interest
Nicknames
 Supermann [given to him due to his performance at the 2009 World Championships when he became to first man to beat Michael Phelps in 200m freestyle at an international event in four years]. (arenainternational.com, 31 Jul 2011)
International Debut
Competing for
 Germany
Further Personal Information
Languages
 German
General Interest
Hobbies
 Computers, ice hockey, music. (Facebook page, 29 Feb 2016)
Other information
 RETIREMENT
He retired from the sport after competing at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. (sueddeutsche.de, 10 Aug 2016)

 Competition Highlights
Olympic Games
Rank Year Venue Event Result
6 2016 Rio de Janeiro, BRA 200m Freestyle 1:45.84
6 2016 Rio de Janeiro, BRA 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay 7:07.28
13 2012 London, ENG 400m Freestyle 3:48.50
5 2012 London, ENG 200m Freestyle 1:45.53 
4 2012 London, ENG 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay 7:06.59
Heats 2008 Beijing, CHN 400m Freestyle 3:48.03
5 2008 Beijing, CHN 200m Freestyle 1:46.00
Heats 2008 Beijing, CHN 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay  
Heats 2008 Beijing, CHN 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay  
World Championships
Rank Year Venue Event Result
3 2015 Kazan, RUS 200m Freestyle 1:45.38
Heats 2015 Kazan, RUS 100m Freestyle  DNS
5 2015 Kazan, RUS 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay 7:09.01
Heats 2015 Kazan, RUS 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 3:16.01
3 2011 Shanghai, CHN 400m Freestyle 3:44.14
3 2011 Shanghai, CHN 200m Freestyle 1:44.88
3 2011 Shanghai, CHN 4 x 100m Medley Relay 3:32.60
4 2011 Shanghai, CHN 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay 7:08.32
5 2009 Rome, ITA 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay 7:03.19
1 2009 Rome, ITA 400m Freestyle 3:40.07
1 2009 Rome, ITA 200m Freestyle 1:42.00
2 2009 Rome, ITA 4 x 100m Medley Relay 3:28.58
7 2007 Melbourne, VIC, AUS 200m Freestyle 1:48.09
Heats 2007 Melbourne, VIC, AUS 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay  
Heat 2005 Montreal, CAN 200m Freestyle 1:49.47
21 2005 Montreal, CAN 1500m Freestyle 15:41.88 
20 2005 Montreal, CAN 400m Freestyle 3:52.45 
7 2005 Montreal, CAN 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay 7:17.52
World Championships Short Course
Rank Year Venue Event Result
1 2012 Istanbul, TUR 400m Freestyle 3:39.15
2 2012 Istanbul, TUR 200m Freestyle 1:42.07
3 2012 Istanbul, TUR 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay 6:53.22
1 2010 Dubai, UAE 400m Freestyle 3:37.06
5 2010 Dubai, UAE 200m Freestyle 1:42.19
4 2010 Dubai, UAE 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay 6:54.12
European Championships
Rank Year Venue Event Result
Heats 2014 Berlin, GER 400m Freestyle 3:50.42
2 2014 Berlin, GER 200m Freestyle 1:45.80
Heats 2014 Berlin, GER 100m Freestyle  DNS
4 2014 Berlin, GER 4 x 100m Medley Relay 3:33.92
1 2014 Berlin, GER 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay 7:09.00
1 2012 Debrecen, HUN 400m Freestyle 3:47.84
1 2012 Debrecen, HUN 200m Freestyle 1:46.27
1 2012 Debrecen, HUN 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay 7:09.17
2 2010 Budapest, HUN 400m Freestyle 3:46.30
1 2010 Budapest, HUN 200m Freestyle 1:46.06
  2010 Budapest, HUN 100m Freestyle DNS
8 2010 Budapest, HUN 4 x 100m Medley Relay  
2 2010 Budapest, HUN 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay 7:08.13
5 2010 Budapest, HUN 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 3:15.97
Heats 2008 Eindhoven, NED 400m Freestyle 3:51.22
1 2008 Eindhoven, NED 200m Freestyle 1:46.59
7 2006 Budapest, HUN 4 x 200m Freestyle Relay 7:18.61
Heats 2006 Budapest, HUN 400m Freestyle 3:55.87
7 2006 Budapest, HUN 200m Freestyle 1:48.99
European Championships Short Course
Rank Year Venue Event Result
2 2015 Netanya, ISR 400m Freestyle 3:35.96
1 2015 Netanya, ISR 200m Freestyle 1:42.68
1 2011 Szczecin, POL 400m Freestyle 3:38.65
1 2011 Szczecin, POL 200m Freestyle 1:42.92
2 2010 Eindhoven, NED 200m Freestyle 1:42.94
1 2010 Eindhoven, NED 400m Freestyle 3:39.51
1 2009 Istanbul, TUR 400m Freestyle 3:42.35
1 2009 Istanbul, TUR 200m Freestyle 1:39.81
9 2008 Rijeka, CRO 100m Freestyle 47.80
9 2008 Rijeka, CRO 200m Freestyle 1:44.55
1 2008 Rijeka, CRO 400m Freestyle 3:37.73
2 2007 Debrecen, HUN 400m Freestyle 3:38.76
2 2007 Debrecen, HUN 200m Freestyle 1:43.60
8 2006 Helsinki, FIN 200m Freestyle 1:45.88
6 2006 Helsinki, FIN 400m Freestyle 3:43.24
19 2005 Trieste, ITA 200m Freestyle 1:47.17
7 2005 Trieste, ITA 1500m Freestyle 14:45.96
3 2005 Trieste, ITA 400m Freestyle 3:39.88
World Cup Short Course
Rank Year Venue Event Result
41 2014   Overall  
4 2014 Beijing, CHN 400m Freestyle 3:42.72
2 2014 Beijing, CHN 200m Freestyle 1:44.48
4 2014 Singapore, SGP 100m Freestyle 48.44
3 2014 Singapore, SGP 400m Freestyle 3:40.43
4 2014 Singapore, SGP 200m Freestyle 1:44.10
6 2014 Tokyo, JPN 400m Freestyle 3:42.26
1 2012 Berlin, GER 400m Freestyle 3:42.21
2 2012 Berlin, GER 200m Freestyle 1:42.71
1 2012 Moscow, RUS 400m Freestyle 3:44.00
2 2012 Moscow, RUS 200m Freestyle 1:44.49
2 2012 Stockholm, SWE 400m Freestyle 3:45.14
4 2012 Stockholm, SWE 200m Freestyle 1:45.70
11 2011   Overall  
1 2011 Berlin, GER 400m Freestyle 3:41.19
1 2011 Berlin, GER 200m Freestyle 1:42.42
1 2011 Moscow, RUS 400m Freestyle 3:40.40
1 2011 Moscow, RUS 200m Freestyle 1:43.15
1 2011 Stockholm, SWE 400m Freestyle 3:43.45
1 2011 Stockholm, SWE 200m Freestyle 1:43.44
16 2010   Overall  
1 2010 Berlin, GER 400m Freestyle 3:42.31
1 2010 Berlin, GER 200m Freestyle 1:44.36
1 2010 Stockholm, SWE 400m Freestyle 3:41.27
1 2010 Stockholm, SWE 200m Freestyle 1:43.03
6 2009   Overall  
1 2009 Berlin, GER 200m Freestyle 1:39.37 WR
1 2009 Berlin, GER 400m Freestyle 3:32.77 WR
8 2008   Overall  
2 2008 Berlin, GER 400m Freestyle 3:40.29
1 2008 Berlin, GER 200m Freestyle 1:40.83 WR
2 2008 Stockholm, SWE 400m Freestyle 3:42.06
2 2008 Stockholm, SWE 200m Freestyle 1:43.46
2 2007 Berlin, GER 400m Freestyle 3:38.22
2 2007 Berlin, GER 200m Freestyle 1:42.39
2 2007 Stockholm, SWE 200m Freestyle 1:45.39
1 2005/2006 Berlin, GER 400m Freestyle 3:41.94
2 2005/2006 Berlin, GER 200m Freestyle 1:45.13
2 2005/2006 Berlin, GER 1500m Freestyle 14:36.70
2 2004/2005 Berlin, GER 400m Freestyle 3:43.30
2 2004/2005 Berlin, GER 1500m Freestyle 14:40.01
2 2004/2005 Stockholm, SWE 400m Freestyle 3:42.87
2 2004/2005 Stockholm, SWE 200m Freestyle 1:46.36