Swimming at the 1912 Stockholm Summer Games:

International breaststroke competition in this era was dominated by Continental Europeans, notably the Germans. The world record was held by Belgium’s Félicien Courbet, with a mark of 3:00.8 set at Schaerback on 2 October 1910. Although Courbet was in Stockholm he did not advance in his semi-final heat. The most recent ASA championships had been won as follows: 1907-09 - Percy Courtman (GBR), 1910 - Harald Julin (SWE), 1911 - Ödön Toldi (HUN), and 1912-13 - Courtman. Thus the event was wide-open.

But none of the above won a medal, although all but Toldi competed. The event was swept by the Germans, led by Walter Bathe, who challenged, but did not break, Courbet’s world record with a mark of 3:01.8.