16 Facts About Peter-Michael Kolbe

Peter-Michael Kolbe's career is known for the rivalry with Pertti Karppinen that stretched for 14 years.

At the 1974 World Rowing Championships in Lucerne, Kolbe won bronze with the coxed four.

Peter-Michael Kolbe was named West German Sportsman of the year for this achievement.

Peter-Michael Kolbe went into the 1976 Olympics as the favorite.

Peter-Michael Kolbe led the entire race only to be passed in the closing moments by Karppinen who had trailed badly during the early portions of the race.

Peter-Michael Kolbe left the single scull and rowed in the West German national eight, which raced in several European events.

In 1982, Peter-Michael Kolbe moved to Oslo to be with his Norwegian wife, a journalist whom he met at the 1975 World Championships.

At the 1984 Olympics, Peter-Michael Kolbe faced his rival Karppinen .

Peter-Michael Kolbe fought for and got the lead early in the race.

Peter-Michael Kolbe slowly began pulling away from the other rowers.

In both the 1976 and 1984 Olympics, Karppinen and Peter-Michael Kolbe separated themselves from the pack turning a multi-boat race into a two boat match.

In 1987, Peter-Michael Kolbe won the Diamond Challenge Sculls at the Henley Royal Regatta, rowing for the RC Hamburg.

At the 1988 Olympics, Peter-Michael Kolbe finally beat Karppinen at the Olympics, but there was a new sculling sensation.

Thomas Lange won the race with Peter-Michael Kolbe again getting silver, and Karppinen not even making the finals.

Peter-Michael Kolbe later returned to Germany and in 1994 became director of the German Rowing Federation.

In July 2016, Peter-Michael Kolbe was inducted into Germany's Sports Hall of Fame.