Klaus-Dieter Ludwig

Klaus-Dieter Ludwig was an East German coxswain who was a member of the coxed fours crew that won the silver medal at the 1972 München Olympics. The boat lost the gold medal against the famous West German boat called Bullenvierer (Bull’s fours). Eight years later at Moscow he won the gold medal with the coxed eights.

At the World Championships Ludwig collected seven medals: two gold medals in 1966 and 1981 with the coxed fours; a silver medal in 1970 with the coxed pairs; two more gold medals with the coxed eights in 1975 and 1979; a silver medal with the coxed eights in 1982; and in 1983 a silver in coxed fours. In 1973, Ludwig also won the European Championships with the coxed fours. In 1975 and from 1979-82 he won five East German nationals with the coxed eights, and in 1966, 1973, 1979 and in 1981 also with the coxed fours.

By profession, Ludwig was a trained sports teacher, working with the Deutsche Volkspolizei (German People’s Police). After re-unification he moved to the sports administration of his hometown Potsdam. He was a heavy smoker and drinker and died in 2016 after a long period in a care home.