Detlef Lewe

Detlef Lewe had a long and successful career as a canoer. He won three world titles in the Canadian Singles, including the 500 m/1000 m double in 1971, after winning silver in 1963 and gold in 1966 in C1 1000 m. Lewe also won two European titles (1965, 1967) and no less than 33 German titles. His Olympic career strechted four Games, winning two medals. He was rewarded for his long career and given the honour of carrying the West German flag at the opening ceremony of the 1972 Munich Games. Lewe, who was honoured by his home town Schwerte with the road to the boat house of his club being named after him, owned a butcher shop after he quit canoeing. His wife Barbara Lewe-Pohlmann-Schüttpelz also was a successfil canoer.

Lewe trained butcher and later owned a butchery in his hometown in Schwerte. When he retired in 1998 he sold his butchery and moved to Munich, where he died in 2008 after a short illness.