Medal summary
Medalists at the 1962 World Rowing Championships: [1] [2]
Men's events
Event codes
| Single scull | Double scull | Coxless pair | Coxed pair | Coxless four | Coxed four | Eight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's | M1x | M2x | M2- | M2+ | M4- | M4+ | M8+ |
| 1962 World Rowing Championships | |
|---|---|
| Venue | Rotsee |
| Location | Lucerne, Switzerland |
| Dates | 6–9 September |
| Competitors | 401 from 24 nations |
The 1962 World Rowing Championships were the inaugural world championships in rowing. The competition was held in September 1962 on the Rotsee in Lucerne, Switzerland. [1] [2] Rowers from West Germany dominated the competition, winning five of the seven boat classes.
The Fédération Internationale des Sociétés d'Aviron (FISA) decided in 1961 that, like at the Olympics, rowers from the whole world should compete for a championship title; thus far, they had only organised the European Rowing Championships, although they were open to rowers from outside of Europe. [3] Prior to the 1974 World Rowing Championships, only men competed. [1] Seven boat classes were part of the inaugural world championships that was held from 6 to 9 September on the Swiss Rotsee. There were 401 competitors from 24 countries (counting East and West Germany as one country) with 107 boats at the competition. Between 13 (double scull) and 17 (coxless pair) competed per boat class. [3]
FISA did not recognise East Germany, hence only one German crew was permitted per event. Selection trials between East and West German crews were held on 3 September on the Rotsee, three days before the start of the championships. [4] As was predicted by East German media outlets, West German crews would win in six of the seven categories, with 1960 Olympic single scull silver medal winner Achim Hill the only successful East German qualifier, beating Edgar Heidorn from Hanover. [2] [4] [5] During the world championships, Hill did not proceed beyond the heats, though. [6]
Medalists at the 1962 World Rowing Championships: [1] [2]
| Single scull | Double scull | Coxless pair | Coxed pair | Coxless four | Coxed four | Eight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's | M1x | M2x | M2- | M2+ | M4- | M4+ | M8+ |
| Country |  Gold |  Silver |  Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 West Germany | 5 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
 Soviet Union | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 |
 France | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
 Great Britain | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
 Romania | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
 Austria | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
 Switzerland | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
 United States | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Total | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
The countries that did compete but did not win medals were Denmark and the Netherlands (they had entered 7 boats each), Czechoslovakia (6 boats), Norway and Poland (5 boats each), Belgium, Japan and Sweden (4 boats each), Australia, Finland and Canada (3 boats each), Israel, Yugoslavia, and Hungary (2 boats each), and New Zealand and Portugal (1 boat each). [3]
Hans-Joachim Böhmer was an East German rower who won a bronze medal in the double sculls at the 1972 Summer Olympics, together with Uli Schmied. They also won a European title in 1971 and a silver medal at the 1970 World Rowing Championships. In other rowing events Böhmer won a bronze medal in the eights at the 1966 World Rowing Championships.
Jürgen Bertow is a retired German rower. He won a bronze medal at the 1976 Summer Olympics and a silver at the 1975 World Championships in the double sculls, as well as a world title in the quad sculls in 1974. For these achievements he received the Patriotic Order of Merit in 1974 and 1976.
Rüdiger Reiche is a retired German rower and a 1976 Olympic champion in the quadruple sculls. Between 1974 and 1985 he won eight medals in single, double and quadruple scull events at the world championships, including two gold medals. After retiring from competitions he worked as a rowing coach at the club and national levels, training Daniel Haudoerfer and Hubert Trzybinski.
Ivo Stefanoni is an Italian rowing cox and Olympic champion.
Hans Ernst Homberger was a Swiss rower who competed with two of his brothers. He won two medals at the 1935 European Rowing Championships and a further two medals at the 1936 Summer Olympics. Born into a family of industrialists, he took over the International Watch Company when his father died in 1955. He led the company until he sold it to VDO in 1978.
Robert Dumontois was a French former rower who competed in the 1960 Summer Olympics and in the 1964 Summer Olympics.
Thomas Ahrens is a retired German coxswain who was most successful in the eights. In this event he won a silver medal at the 1964 Summer Olympics, a world title in 1962, and two European titles in 1963 and 1964.
Peter Neusel was a German rower who had his best achievements in the coxed fours. In this event he won a world title in 1962, a European title in 1963 and a gold medal at the 1964 Summer Olympics. He died on 22 July 2021, at the age of 79.
Bernhard Britting is a retired German rower who had his best achievements in the coxed fours. In this event he won a world title in 1962, a European title in 1963 and a gold medal at the 1964 Summer Olympics.
Jürgen Oelke is a retired German rowing coxswain who had his best achievements in the coxed fours. In this event he won a world title in 1962, a European title in 1963 and a gold medal at the 1964 Summer Olympics.
Igor Aleksandrovich Rudakov is a Russian former coxswain who competed for the Soviet Union in the 1960, 1964, 1968, and in the 1972 Summer Olympics.
Oleg Grigorevich Tyurin was a Russian rower who had his best achievements in the double sculls, partnering with Boris Dubrovskiy. In this event, they won an Olympic gold in 1964 and four medals at European and world championships in 1962–1965.
Peter Berger is a German rower who competed for West Germany in the 1968 Summer Olympics and in the 1972 Summer Olympics.
Gerhard Auer was a German rower who competed for West Germany in the 1972 Summer Olympics.
Alois Bierl is a German rower who competed for West Germany in the 1972 Summer Olympics.
Joachim Werner Ehrig is a German retired rower who specialized in the coxless fours. He won a silver medal in the event at the 1970 World Rowing Championships and bronze medals at the 1971 European Championships and 1972 Summer Olympics.
Peter Niehusen is the only sportsman to have won international medals as both a coxswain and a rower. He won two gold medals and three bronze medals at the European and World Championships and the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal.
Jørgen Engelbrecht is a retired Danish rower. Together with Niels Henry Secher, he won a world title at the 1970 World Rowing Championships and finished fourth at the 1972 Summer Olympics in the double sculls event.
Boris Fyodorov is a Soviet rower. He had a long career, having won international medals between the ages of 22 and 35.
The 1922 European Rowing Championships were rowing championships held in the Port of Barcelona in the Spanish city Barcelona. The competition was for men only and they competed in five boat classes, the same ones as had been used at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp.
