East German rower Petra Boesler won the silver medal with Sabine Jahn at the 1976 Montréal Olympics in the double sculls. Both also won the silver medal at the 1975 World Championships, and also won their first GDR national title that year. In 1977, Boesler moved to the quadruple sculls, winning another East German title and also the gold medal at the Worlds. In 1978, she again won an East German title in the double sculls, now partnering with Gisela Medefindt.
Boesler’s sister Martina won a rowing gold at the 1980 Moskva Olympics. Their aunt Renate Boesler was also a rower, winning several European titles during the 1960s, who was married to Olympic rowing champion Wolfgang Gunkel. Petra married volleyball international Hartmut Wach. By profession, she became a physiotherapist.
East Germany