  m ▁fre est yle , ▁although ▁he ▁was ▁the ▁world ▁record ▁holder , ▁he ▁only ▁placed ▁ 5 th . ▁He ▁was ▁over ▁a ▁second ▁behind ▁the ▁first - place ▁finish er ▁Ryan ▁L och te . ▁▁ 2 0 1 1 ▁Long ▁Cour se ▁World ▁Championships ▁B ied ermann ▁collected ▁bronze ▁med als ▁in ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 ▁m ▁fre est yle , ▁ 4 0 0 ▁m ▁fre est yle , ▁and ▁ 4 ▁× ▁ 1 0 0 ▁m ▁med ley ▁relay , ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁finishing ▁ 4 th ▁in ▁the ▁ 4 ▁× ▁ 2 0 0 ▁m ▁fre est yle ▁relay . ▁He ▁was ▁out - touch ed ▁by ▁Michael ▁Ph el ps ▁by ▁ 0 . 0 9 ▁seconds ▁in ▁the ▁individual ▁ 2 0 0 ▁m ▁fre est yle . ▁However , ▁B ied ermann ▁got ▁the ▁better ▁of ▁Ph el ps ▁in ▁the ▁relay ▁lead - off ▁leg ▁by ▁be ating ▁him ▁by ▁ 0 . 3 3 ▁seconds . ▁▁ 2 0 1 2 ▁Summer ▁Olympics ▁ ▁At ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 2 ▁Summer ▁Olympics , ▁he ▁competed ▁in ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 ▁m ▁fre est yle , ▁finishing ▁ 5 th ▁( 0 . 6 ▁seconds ▁from ▁a ▁medal ); ▁the ▁ 4 0 0 ▁m ▁fre est yle ; ▁and ▁the ▁ 4 ▁x ▁ 2 0 0 ▁m ▁fre est yle ▁relay ▁as ▁a ▁member ▁of ▁the ▁German ▁team ▁that ▁finished ▁ 4 th . ▁▁