One of only a few men to win three gold medals in Olympic rowing, East German Siegfried Brietzke earned his first in 1972 in the coxless pairs, accompanied by Wolfgang Mager. In 1976, Brietzke and Mager joined with Andreas Decker and Stefan Semmler to win the gold medal in the coxless fours. In 1980, Jürgen Thiele replaced Mager, as Brietzke won his third gold medal in coxless fours. Brietzke also won World Championships in coxless fours in 1974, 1975, 1977 and 1979, and in 1978 he won a silver medal. In 1970 he and Mager won a Youth World Championship in coxless pairs.
After retiring Brietzke turned to coaching until 1988. He was also a member of the NOC of the former GDR from 1981-90, and then of the NOC of reunified Germany until 1993. Rumors came up about doping practices and his engagement with the Stasi (Ministry of State Security) in East Germany, and he then had to resign from his administrative positions. By profession, he then worked as a specialist for way leave in Hamburg and later in Schwerin. In 1984 he was awarded the Olympic Order in bronze.
East Germany