Georg Hax was the chairman of the Deutscher Schwimm-Verband (DSV) between 1894 and 1903 and was its President from 1930-36. In 1933 he enacted the so-called Aryan Paragraph, which excluded all Jews from the Deutscher Schwimm-Verband.
An energetic and ambitious Hax received an invitation to the 1900 Olympic Games. His aim was to send the German Swimming Federation to Paris to contest the world’s best. Under the name L’équipe impériale Allemande the German Reich selection went to Paris with Hax as team captain and goalkeeper. In the game Germany against Pupilles de Neptune from Lille, the French proved far superior and led at half-time, 3-0. The German team had a hard struggle, since they had to cope with the international rules for the first time. The popular “ball in hand” tactic was countered by aggressive play by the French. A tactical change at the break helped the Germans score two goals in the second half, while Lille did not score any further, nevertheless they won 3-2.
In his Olympic career Hax was also the flagbearer of the 1906 German team and then placed fifth with the German gymnastic team in the all-around. His son, Heinz Hax, took part in three Olympic Games (1928, 1932, 1936), competing in modern pentathlon and shooting.
Germany