Willy Seewald

Guilherme Richard Franz “Willy” Seewald was a Brazilian track and field athlete who specialised in the javelin throw. In 1922 Seewald won gold at the unofficial South American Championships in Athletics, which were branded as the Latin American Olympic Games to celebrate 100 years of Brazilian independence. He went to the 1924 Paris Olympics thanks to financial support from German immigrants in Porto Alegre, with Seewald himself being the son of German immigrants. At the Paris Games he finished 18th with a best throw of 49.39 metres. From 1925 to 1927 Seewald was a three-time national champion in the event. Tragically his career was cut short when he died in February 1929 at the age of 28 from complications due to appendicitis.

Personal Best: JT – 56.88 (1922).