Wilfried Soltau

At the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, race canoeist Wilfried Soltau won two bronze medals in the C2 over 1,000 and 10,000 metres with Egon Drews. Four years later in Melbourne, the two men finished fourth over 10,000 metres, having won the bronze medal at the 1954 World Championships over 1,000 metres. The duo also won the West German C2 titles in 1952-54 and 1956 over 1,000 metres, Soltau also won it in 1957 with Heinz Osenbrüg, and previously in 1950 with Waldemar Becker. Drews and Soltau also dominated the Nationals over 10,000 metres between 1952-56, a title Soltau also won in 1947 and 1949-50 with Becker. In 1954 and 1957 Soltau won the German team title with Hamburger Kanu Club. He was awarded the Silver Bay Leaf in 1952.