Christian Händle

Rower Christian Händle, brother of Roland Händle, participated in the 1988 Seoul and 1992 Barcelona Olympics. He finished fourth with Ralf Thienel in the double sculls in 1988 representing West Germany and, in 1992, now representing re-unified Germany, he rowed with Peter Uhrig in the heats and with Jens Köppen in the B-final, placing eighth. In 1989, Christian Händle finished fifth in the single sculls at the World Championships. He was then foreseen as the successor to West German single sculler Peter-Michael Kolbe but, when re-unification took place, Thomas Lange from East Germany was the better sculler. Therefore, Händle reverted to the double sculls.

Händle partnered with Uhrig at the 1993 and 1994 World Championships, winning the bronze medal in 1983 and silver in 1984. In 1989 and 1990, Händle won the single sculls national title, and in 1992 was double sculls champion with Peter Uhrig. Händle later married his teammate Birgit Peter.

Händle studied chemical engineering and food process engineering. After some years working in the United Kingdom, he became responsible for producing cream cheeses, processed, and soft cheeses, such as Camemberts and blue cheeses, in Kempten (Allgäu).