Roswitha Esser
Biographical information
| Roles | Competed in Olympic Games |
|---|---|
| Sex | Female |
| Full name | Roswitha•Esser |
| Used name | Roswitha•Esser |
| Born | 18 January 1941 in Bad Godesberg, Bonn, Nordrhein-Westfalen (GER) |
| Measurements | 167 cm / 67 kg |
| Affiliations | Holzheimer SG, Neuss (GER) |
| NOC |  Germany  West Germany |
| Nationality | West Germany |
| Medals | OG |
| Gold | 2 |
| Silver | 0 |
| Bronze | 0 |
| Total | 2 |
Biography
Sprint canoeist Roswitha Esser won two gold medals in the K2 at the 1964 Tokyo and the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games, alongside her teammate Annemarie Zimmermann. In 1964 Esser and Zimmermann were awarded the Silver Bay Leaf, the highest German sports award. Both were also elected 1964 Sportswomen of the Year. The pair represented the mixed German team in Tokyo and West Germany in 1968. In 1972 Esser came back with her new partner Renate Breuer and finished fifth at the Olympics.
Esser also won a gold medal at the 1963 Worlds with Zimmermann, and in 1970 with Breuer. In 1966 she added a silver medal in the K1, winning three silvers in K4 in 1963, 1966, and 1971, also adding a K4 bronze in 1970. At the European Championships Esser won gold in 1963 and bronze in 1969 with Zimmermann in the K2, also claiming K4 medals with a silver in 1969 and a 1965 bronze.
Domestically Esser won West German titles in K2 with Zimmermann in 1962-64, and 1968-69, with non-Olympians Irene Rozema in 1965, Erika Rekitt in 1966, and Roswitha Spohr in 1972. Esser also won the K1 title in 1965-67.
Results
| Games | Discipline (Sport) / Event | NOC / Team | Pos | Medal | Nationality | As | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 Summer Olympics | Canoe Sprint (Canoeing) | GER |
FRG |
Roswitha Esser | |||
| Kayak Doubles, 500 metres, Women (Olympic) | Annemarie Zimmermann | 1 | Gold | ||||
| 1968 Summer Olympics | Canoe Sprint (Canoeing) | FRG |
Roswitha Esser | ||||
| Kayak Doubles, 500 metres, Women (Olympic) | Annemarie Zimmermann | 1 | Gold | ||||
| 1972 Summer Olympics | Canoe Sprint (Canoeing) | FRG |
Roswitha Esser | ||||
| Kayak Doubles, 500 metres, Women (Olympic) | Renate Breuer | 5 |
Special Notes
- Listed in Olympians Who Won a Medal at the Canoe Sprint European Championships (0–2–4 1965 București bronze: K2 500 m and K4 500 m (competed for West Germany); 1967 Duisburg silver: K4 500 m, bronze: K2 500 m (competed for West Germany); 1969 Moskva silver: K4 500 m, bronze: K2 500 m (competed for West Germany))
- Listed in Olympians Who Won a Medal at the Canoe Sprint World Championships (2–4–1 1963 Jajce gold: K2 500 m, silver: K4 500 m (competed for West Germany); 1966 East Berlin silver: K1 500 m and K4 500 m (competed for West Germany); 1970 København gold: K2 500 m, bronze: K4 500 m (competed for West Germany); 1971 Beograd silver: K4 500 m (competed for West Germany))
- Listed in Olympians Who Were Elected German Athlete of the Year (1964)