Otto Scheff

Otto Scheff, born Otto Sochaczewsky (December 12, 1889 – October 26, 1956) was an Austrian freestyle swimmer, water polo player, lawyer, politician, and sports official who competed in the 1906 Intercalated Games, and both the 1908, and 1912 Summer Olympics. He later worked as an attorney in Vienna, served in the National Council of Austria,

Scheff was born in Berlin on September 12, 1889 into the family of Jewish writer Heinrich Sochaczewsky, who published under the pseudonym Victor von Falk. Scheff grew up in Wien (Vienna), Austria, soon distinguishing himself globally as the top middle-distance freestyler in the era of the trudgeon stroke, prior to the broad introduction of the Australian crawl. He swam for the Wiener Athletiksport Club. He first gained international recognition in 1905 at the international tournament held in Paris, then known as the World Championships, where he placed third in the 500-m freestyle behind British swimmers David Billington and Eric Forsyth.

Records Scheff set a long course European and World record of 2:31.6 in the 200-meter freestyle on 11 November 1908 in Vienna, Austria that held through 12 December 1924. His 200-meter record held as a world record that held through 9 September 1910.

He was attending school in 1906 when the Austrian Olympic Committee intervened in his schooling to allow him three weeks leave to compete in the 1906 Intercalated Games in Athens.

Scheff subsequently won the gold medal by a two second margin in the 400 metre freestyle. He swam as part of the 4×250 metre freestyle relay team, which did not complete the event.

1908 Olympics Two years later he was in London for the 1908 Summer Olympics, and again entered three events. He reached the semi-finals of the 1500 metre freestyle swimming a 24:25.4 in the second semi-final heat, but didn't complete the final, where British swimmer Henry Taylor, with a time of 22:48.4 again took the gold medal. He qualified for the semi-finals of the 100 metre freestyle, by swimming a 1:11.4 in his preliminary heat, but did not swim in the semi-finals.

1912 Stockholm Olympics Scheff trained Austria's 1912 women's Olympic swim team that won the bronze medal with a combined time of 6:27.0 in the 4×100 m freestyle behind the gold medal British and silver medal German team. The Austrian women's relay team was composed of Klara Milch, Josephine Sticker, Margarete Adler and Berta Zahourek, who were considered the most accomplished Austrian women's swimmers prior to the first World War.

At the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm Scheff participated in the water polo tournament as part of the Austrian team which finished in fourth place. He was scheduled to participate in the 100 and 400-meter freestyle, but did not swim in his preliminary heat.

His daughter Gertraud Scheff was already qualified for the 1940 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, when the games were cancelled.

Honors Scheff was inducted to the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1988.

In his honor, Mödling, 15 km South of Vienna, named a street "Dr. Otto Scheff-Weg".