Martin Winter
Olympic champion in rowing
Martin Winter
Olympic champion in rowing
| Born | November 5th, 1955, in Zerbst († February 1988) |
|---|---|
| Discipline | Rowing |
| Club | SC Magdeburg |
THE RIGHT CHOICE
From soccer player to rowing talent: Martin Winter first played soccer in Güterglück before switching to the rowing team at SCM. As it turned out, this was the best sporting decision he could ever have made. The Magdeburg native went on to achieve numerous successes.
Development into a top athlete
Martin Winter’s athletic career had its origins as a soccer player at Lok Güterglück. When he was 14, his athletic talent led him to SC Magdeburg and its rowing team. Martin Winter came second in the adult class at the GDR championships in 1974.
He developed into a top athlete and took part in all the important sporting championships at GDR level. He took third place in the single sculls at the 1975 World Championships in Nottingham, became four-time world champion in the quadruple sculls in 1977 in Amsterdam, 1978 in Karapiro, New Zealand, 1981 in Munich and 1982 in Lucerne. He was also runner-up in the quadruple sculls in 1983 in Duisburg. Having retired from active competition, the qualified sports instructor worked as a junior rowing coach at SC Magdeburg. Among others, he trained Olympic champion André Willms there. Martin Winter died in 1988 as a result of an accident.
Included on the Sports Walk of Fame
Sponsor:
The gold medal in the quadruple sculls at the 1976 Olympic Games in Canada was won without him: Martin Winter was unlucky and had to undergo an appendectomy while there. His moment came in 1980, when he and his team won the gold medal in the quadruple sculls at the Olympic Games in Moscow. Martin Winter is one of Magdeburg’s most important athletes. He is honoured on the Sports Walk of Fame primarily for his Olympic gold medal.