Leon Rotman

Leon Rotman began his sporting career as a wrestler, but discovered his talents in canoeing as he entered adulthood. He won his first of 14 Romanian national titles in 1954 and represented his country at the Olympics two years later in Melbourne. There, he won both of the events that he entered: the C-1 1000 and 10,000. He was fifth in the C-1 1000 at the 1957 European Championships, but won a third Olympic medal with bronze in that event in 1960. He was fifth again at the 1961 Europeans and seventh in the 10,000 metres at the 1963 World Championships, but retired afterwards due to a shoulder injury. By career he served in the military, but also coached in his sport.