Sprint canoeist Heinz Büker partnered with Holger Zander at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics in the K2-1000s, with the pair winning a bronze medal, for which they were both awarded the Silver Bay Leaf, the highest sports award in Germany. They also won another bronze at the 1963 Worlds in the K2-500, adding a silver in 1966.
Büker started his international career in 1961 winning the European Championships in the kayak relay. In 1967 he claimed his last international medal with a bronze, again in the relay. In 1962 and 1965 he was West German K1 champion in the 500 metre event. After his active career Büker became a coach in the North Rhine Westphalian Canoe Association.