Dieter Freise
Dieter Freise (18 February 1945 – 5 April 2018) was a German field hockey player who won the gold medal with the West German team at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich and played his entire club career for Hockey-Club Heidelberg1. By profession he was a dentist1.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born / died | 1945, Heidelberg; 5 April 2018, Heidelberg (aged 73)1 |
| Club | HC Heidelberg, his only club; West German champion 1971 (indoor) and 1982 (outdoor)1 |
| International caps | 86 for West Germany, 73 outdoor and 13 indoor1 |
| Olympic results | Gold, 1972 Munich (final won 1-0 against Pakistan); fifth, 1976 Montréal1 |
| Other medals | European champion 1970; European silver 1974; World Championship bronze 19751 • 2 |
| Profession | Dentist; ran his parents' practice from 1976 until his retirement in 20091 |
Club career
Freise played for HC Heidelberg in his home city for his whole career, following his father Günther Freise, who had also been a hockey player at the club1. With Heidelberg he won the West German indoor championship in 1971 and the outdoor title in 19821.
International career
In 1970 he was part of the squad that won the first European Field Hockey Championship, held in Belgium2.
The 1972 Munich Olympics were the peak of his international career. West Germany beat most of its rivals and won the final 1-0 against the world champions from Pakistan, taking the gold medal1 • 2. Freise played in all seven matches of his team's tournament2, and on 25 May 1973 the whole national team received the Silbernes Lorbeerblatt, Germany's highest sports award, for the Olympic title.
He stayed with the national team after Munich. At the 1974 European Championships he won a silver medal1, and at the 1975 World Championship in Malaysia the team took bronze2. At the 1976 Montréal Olympics West Germany finished fifth1.
Life outside hockey
Freise was a dentist by profession. He married the gymnast Uta Schorn, and the couple later divorced1. In later life he was an avid golfer1.
Freise died on 5 April 2018 in Heidelberg and was buried at the Bergfriedhof cemetery there1.
References
Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Hockey and remaining team sports › Field hockey › German field hockey players
Initially written Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 25, 2026
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