Wiradech Kothny

Wiradech Kothny was a Thai sabre fencer who represented Germany at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. He won both the individual and the team bronze medals. He then had a disagreement with the German Fencing Association and changed nationality to his birth country. In 2004 at Athens and 2008 at Beijing, he then represented Thailand and participated in the individual events but only with minor success. At the 2006 Asian Games, he won the bronze medals in both the individual and team event.

Kothny was born in Thailand but grew up in Germany, where he was adopted by his stepfather. He was awarded the Silver Bay Leaf, Germany’s highest sports award. In 2002, he gained Thai citizenship. Just two days after the 2004 Sumatra–Andaman earthquake, commonly known as the Boxing Day Tsunami, Kothny organized to help tourists and to recover the bodies of those people who lost their lives. He also initiated several aid projects in the Thai area. For his involvement, he was awarded several distinctions.