Bernd Duvigneau
Olympic champion in canoeing
Bernd Duvigneau
Olympic champion in canoeing
| Born | December 3rd, 1955, in Magdeburg |
|---|---|
| Place of residence | Barleben |
| Discipline | Canoeing |
| Club | SC Magdeburg |
SUCCESSFUL CAREER
Bernd Duvigneau was an actively competing athlete in the canoe racing team of SCM from 1966 to 1982. The Magdeburg native celebrated his first international success in 1973 at the Junior European Championships in Poland, winning the 500 m single kayak event.
Order of Merit for sporting achievements
In addition to numerous GDR championships in double and quadruple kayaks, the Magdeburg canoeist also won the World Championship over 1,000 metres with the GDR quadruple kayak and the world double championship over 500 metres and 1,000 metres in 1978 and 1979. Bernd Duvigneau also won at two Olympic Games. He first came third in the 1,000-metre race in the K4 at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, and four years later he secured the gold medal in Moscow. An outstanding athlete who was GDR champion several times.
After his active sporting career, he remained loyal to canoe racing and was heavily involved as a referee in the Saxony-Anhalt State Canoe Association. He was awarded the Patriotic Order of Merit in 1974 and 1980 for his sporting achievements.
Included on the Sports Walk of Fame
Sponsor:
The canoe racing team at SC Magdeburg has produced numerous world champions and Olympic medallists – one of them being Bernd Duvigneau. The 1,000-metre quadruple kayak competitions at the 1976 Summer Olympics were held on Île Notre-Dame from the 29th to the 31st of July. Bernd Duvigneau is honoured on the Sports Walk of Fame in Magdeburg primarily for this Olympic gold medal from 1980.