Alfred Obschernikat was a member of the West German water polo team that finished sixth at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. Domestically he played for DSV 98 Duisburg. In 1958, 1961 and 1962 Obschernikat helped Duisburg to win the West German Championships. He died in 2005 after a long and serious illness. He later worked as a coach and became the father of Werner, who participated in three Olympic Games 1976, 1984 and 1988, Ralf, also a water polo player, and Britta, a nationally successful swimmer.