Georg Spohr
Olympic champion in canoeing
Georg Spohr
Olympic champion in canoeing
| Born | 24th January 1951 in Magdeburg |
|---|---|
| Place of residence | Magdeburg |
| Discipline | Rowing |
| Club | SC Magdeburg |
PERSEVERING
The rowers from SC Magdeburg were able to persevere against the reigning Olympic and world champions Wolfgang Gunkel and Jörg Lucke at the 1976 Olympic qualifiers. They then went on to win the Olympic gold medal in spectacular fashion.
Keeping a firm grip on the oar
Rowers Harald Jährling and Friedrich-Wilhelm Ulrich formed a new rowing double sculls team in 1975. Georg Spohr joined the team as coxswain – standing 1.48 metres tall and weighing just 47 kg in competition. In 1976 and 1980, he was awarded the Patriotic Order of Merit in silver for his Olympic victories.
Included on the Sports Walk of Fame
Georg Spohr won Olympic gold medals in the double sculls in 1976 and 1980 for his hometown and for SC Magdeburg. Harald Jährling, Friedrich-Wilhelm Ulrich and he were clearly superior at the 1976 Olympic Games. The trio won by almost three seconds ahead of the Soviet boat. After that, the three continued to row together. They teamed up again for the 1980 Olympic Games and won the Olympic regatta narrowly ahead of the Soviet team.
When his plaque was unveiled on the Sports Walk of Fame, Spohr said, ‘It is a great honour for me to be represented here and to be listed alongside Magdeburg sporting legends such as Täve Schur, Ingolf Wiegert and the 1974 1. FCM team.’