Sprint canoer Tomasz Wylenzek was born in Poland but represented Germany at the 2004 Athens and 2008 Beijing Olympics, having moved to Germany with his parents in 2000. Partnering Christian Gille in the kayak doubles at both Games, he won the gold medal over 1,000 metres and placed fifth over 500 in 2004. Four years later they won silver over 1,000 metres and the bronze over 500 and, as a result were awarded Germany’s highest sports award, the Silver Bay Leaf for their sporting success.
Wylenzek, who mostly paddled in the kayak doubles, won five K2 gold medals at World Championships, in 2005 over 500 metres, and in 2005, 2007, 2009, and 2011 over 1,000. He added three more silvers in kayak doubles, 2005-07 (200 metres), and two bronzes, 2007 in the kayak doubles (500 m), and 2010 in the kayak fours (1,000 m).
At the 2002 European Championships, Wylenzek won bronze over 200 metres, and in 2005 he won gold gold across all three distances (200, 500 and 1,000, metres). At the 2006 Europeans, he was runner-up over 1,000 meters. At the 2007 Europeans, he also secured a victory over 1,000 m, and a bronze medal over 200 m. In 2009, he added a silver medal over 1,000 m. In 2010, he then moved to kayak singles and kayak fours, winning bronze medals over 500 and 1,000 metres, respectively.
Germany