Rower Harald Jährling won consecutive gold medals at the 1976 Montréal and 1980 Moskva Olympics with the East German coxed pairs, partnering with Friedrich-Wilhelm Ulrich and Georg Spohr. The same crew also won silver at the 1977 World Championships, and in 1977 and 1979 won the East German nationals. In 1978 Jährling moved to the eights for one season, and won the Worlds. In 1981, he added another World title with the coxed fours. In 1981 and 1983-84 he also won three East German national coxed fours titles.
Jährling started coaching after he ended his active career, and worked with his home club SC Magdeburg until re-unification. In 1989 he moved to Australia with his wife Marina Wilke, and became sporting director of the Australian Rowing Association. His wife returned to Germany after divorce. Their son Rob Jahrling participated as a rower in the 1996-2004 Olympics representing Australia. Harald Jährling committed suicide in 2023.
East Germany