Moritz von Groddeck

Moritz von Groddeck was born in 1936 in a small town in Western Pomerania two weeks before the start of the Berlin Olympic Games. He grew up in Wiesbaden and became one of the most versatile German rowers. Von Groddeck first started for Rudergesellschaft Wiesbaden-Biebrich 1888, winning his first German championship with them in 1955, in the coxed pairs. Von Groddeck was again on the winning coxed pairs crew in 1956 and 1957, also helping to win the 1957 European Championships, and winning the 1956 Olympic silver medal.

After a work-related move to Hamburg, von Groddeck joined the Ratzeburg Rowing Club and won his first of five German Championships in the coxed eights in 1959. One year later he became Olympic champion when the German coxed eights broke the USA winning streak in the event, which had continued since 1920. Von Groddeck also won the coxed eights at the first World Rowing Championships held in Lucerne in 1962, and was the only holdover from the 1960 Olympic crew. In total, von Groddeck won five European and 12 German titles. Von Groddeck retired after winning the silver medal in the coxed eights at the 1964 Olympics.

After 1964 von Groddeck worked as a sports journalist and managed his holiday apartments in the Black Forest. Twice the German president honored him with the Silver Laurel Leaf, the highest German sports award. He died at the age of 75 years in a hospital in Müllheim, and was one of only 17 athletes (8 in summer, 9 in winter), who were part of all three Unified German teams in 1956, 1960 and 1964 with only Wilfried Dietrich, Hans Günter Winkler, and von Groddeck able to win medals at all three Olympics.