Otto Scheff

Who was Otto Scheff?

Otto Scheff, born Otto Sochaczewsky was an Austrian freestyle swimmer, water polo player, lawyer, politician, and sports official who competed in the 1906 Summer Olympics, in the 1908 Summer Olympics, and in the 1912 Summer Olympics.

Scheff was born in Berlin. He won a bronze medal in the 400 metre freestyle event. He also competed in the 100 metre freestyle race, but was eliminated in the semifinals. In the 1500 metre freestyle competition he finished fourth in the final.

At the 1906 Summer Olympics in Athens he won the gold medal in the 400 metre freestyle event and a bronze medal in the 1 mile freestyle race. In the 4×250 metre freestyle relay he was part of the Austrian team finishing in sixth place.

At the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm he participated in the water polo tournament as part of the Austrian team finishing in fourth place.

From 1945 to 1953 he was elected to the National Council of Austria as a member of the Austrian People's Party.

He also was vice president of the Austrian Olympic Committee. He died at Maria Enzersdorf in 1956.

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