Rower Joachim Dreifke won the bronze medal in the single sculls at the 1976 Montréal Olympics. At Moskva in 1980 he moved to the double sculls, partnering with Hans Kröppelien, and won the gold medal. Domestically, he won the East German national title in the single sculls in 1977, with Jürgen Bertow in the double sculls in 1975, and in 1981 and 1982 with Kröppelien. Dreifke also won the quadruple sculls title six times, in 1973-74, 1978-79, 1981 and 1983.
Dreifke also won four World Championships, in the single sculls in 1977, and the quadruple sculls in 1974 and 1978-79. He later became a successful rowing coach. By profession, he trained as an automobile mechanic, but was a member of the East German marine corps.
East Germany