Langbahn Team – Weltmeisterschaft

Ursula Unger

Ursula Unger
Personal information
Born (1953-10-25) 25 October 1953 (age 71)
Sport
SportRowing
ClubSG Dynamo Potsdam
Medal record
Women's rowing
Representing  East Germany
World Rowing Championships
Gold medal – first place 1974 Lucerne Coxed quad sculls
Gold medal – first place 1975 Nottingham Coxed quad sculls
European Rowing Championships
Gold medal – first place 1973 Moscow Coxed quad sculls

Ursula Unger (née Wagner, later Maek, born 25 October 1953) is a rower who competed for East Germany during the 1970s.

Under her maiden name, she became East German national champion with the coxed quad scull in 1973.[1] She also competed in the double scull at the nationals alongside her SG Dynamo Potsdam team mate Roswietha Reichel and they came second.[2] The championship title qualified the quad scull team for the 1973 European Rowing Championships where they won gold.[3] For women, the European Championships were the top rowing event to win until 1973 as women's rowing was not introduced to world championships in 1974 or Olympic Games in 1976. For their sporting success, the gold medallists were all given an award in January 1974; Wagner was given a Master of Sport award.[4] At the 1974 national championships, Wagner's quad scull abandoned the race (the sources do not give the background)[1][5] but they were nominated for the 1974 World Rowing Championships regardless.[6] They were successful and were one of four East German teams to take out inaugural world championship titles for female rowers.[7] In November 1974, the world champions were awarded a Patriotic Order of Merit in bronze (third class); Unger was listed under her married name.[8]

For the 1975 rowing season, Sybille Tietze was replaced by Anke Grünberg but the other members of the coxed quad scull team remained.[9] The team won the national championships[1] and then defended their world championship title at the 1975 World Rowing Championships in Nottingham, Great Britain.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b c Hoffmann, Wilfried. "DDR-Rudermeisterschaften: Doppelvierer – Frauen (Plätze 1–3)" [GDR rowing championships: Quad scull – women (places 1–3)] (in German). Rüsselsheimer Ruder-Klub 08. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
  2. ^ Hoffmann, Wilfried. "DDR-Rudermeisterschaften: Doppelzweier – Frauen (Plätze 1–3)" [GDR rowing championships: Double scull – women (places 1–3)] (in German). Rüsselsheimer Ruder-Klub 08. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
  3. ^ "DDR-Doppelvierer wurde in Moskau Europameister" [GDR double sculls became European champion in Moscow]. Neues Deutschland (in German). Vol. 28, no. 236. 27 August 1973. p. 7. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
  4. ^ "Verdiente Sportler wurden geehrt" [Worthy athletes were honoured]. Berliner Zeitung (in German). Vol. 30, no. 18. 18 January 1974. p. 11. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
  5. ^ Kapsch, Jürgen (22 July 1974). "Die Favoriten waren in Grünau im Bilde" [The favorites were in the picture in Grünau]. Neues Deutschland (in German). Vol. 29, no. 200. p. 7. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
  6. ^ "DDR-Ruderaufgebot für die WM benannt" [GDR rowing squad named for the World Championships]. Berliner Zeitung (in German). Vol. 30, no. 212. 3 August 1974. p. 4. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
  7. ^ "Vier von sechs Titeln für unsere Ruderinnen" [Four of six titles for our female rowers]. Berliner Zeitung (in German). Vol. 30, no. 242. 2 September 1974. p. 6. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
  8. ^ "Vaterländischer Verdienstorden in Bronze" [Patriotic Order of Merit in bronze]. Berliner Zeitung (in German). Vol. 30, no. 331. 30 November 1974. p. 4. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
  9. ^ "Martin Winter Skiff-Nr. 1?" [Martin Winter single scull no. 1?]. Neue Zeit (in German). Vol. 31, no. 128. 2 June 1975. p. 6. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
  10. ^ "DDR-Doppelvierer wurde in Moskau Europameister" [GDR double sculls became European champion in Moscow]. Neues Deutschland (in German). Vol. 30, no. 201. 25 August 1975. p. 7. Retrieved 7 October 2018.