Rower Thomas Möllenkamp partnered Axel Wöstmann in the West German coxless pairs at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics when they finished an unfortunate fourth after winning their heat. Four years later, Möllenkamp moved to the coxed eights and won the gold medal at Seoul. Therefore, the crew and all their members were awarded the Silver Bay Leaf, Germany’s highest sports award. He could not participate in the 1980 Moscow Olympics due to the US-led boycott of the Western countries.
In 1980, 1982 and 1988 Möllenkamp was German coxless fours champion, and coxed eights champion in 1988. By profession, he became managing director of the German branch of the US research company New England Biolabs. He was also the long-time president of his home club Osnabrücker Ruderverein.