Canoe slalom events – held on the Augsburg course – appeared at the Olympics for the first time in 1972 (and for the last time until 1992). East German Rolf-Dieter Amend partnered with Walter Hofmann in the Canadian doubles and won the gold medal as the reigning World runners-up, defeating reigning World Champions and teammates from East Germany Jürgen Kretschmer and Klaus Trummer, who came in a disappointing fourth. Their counterparts in the West held the number two position with Hans-Otto Schumacher and Willi Baues. The West Germans performed even better in run two and maintained their silver medal position.
In 1970, 1972 and 1974, both Schumacher and Baues were West German champions. In 1973 they won a bronze in the C-2 at the World Championships and a gold medal with the C-2 team. Both also were awarded the Silver Bay Leaf, the highest sports award in Germany, and both were inducted to the German Canoe Slalom Hall of Fame.
West Germany