The era of the single and Peter Michael Kolbe

Any mention of the best in single sculling ever, has to include Peter-Michael Kolbe. His name is synonymous with the single and he will be remembered for some of the sport’s incredible races as well has his era of racing consistently into a medals position.

Kolbe died recently at the age of 70.

Born in Hamburg, Germany in 1953, as a teenager the tall Kolbe attracted attention due to his height and long, low-rating strokes. He first became a world champion at just 22 years old. This was the beginning of the era of Kolbe that lasted for over a decade.

The era also aligned with Pertti Karppinen of Finland and became one of the biggest rivalries in rowing ever. It also meant Kolbe’s score card was impressive but with one caveat. There were three Olympic Games producing three medals – all of them silver. His career, thus, recognises two top single scullers overlapping in the same era and dominating the top spots.

The first Olympics for Kolbe were the 1976 Montreal Olympics, where he led for the majority of the race only to be rowed down in the last stretch by Karppinen. Next were the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, where Kolbe went head-to-head with Karppinen. The two scullers were well ahead of the rest of the field. Kolbe kept his nose in front of Karppinen but was unable to hold off the amazing final sprint by the Finn.

At the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games, a sculler from East Germany, 24-year-old Thomas Lange, took on Kolbe and attacked much earlier in the race to overtake not long after the 1000m. Kolbe had no reply and again picked up a silver medal. He did, however, beat Karppinen in this race.

At the World Championships Kolbe’s record is insurmountable. From 1975 through to more than a decade to 1987, Kolbe medalled at nearly every championships. Five of the medals were gold. This included wins against Karppinen and many of the best in single sculling – Sean Drea from Ireland and Ruediger Reiche of East Germany.

Kolbe’s last international race was at the 1988 Olympics. He remained involved in rowing and spent several years as the sports director for the German Rowing Association. In 2016 his achievements were honoured with induction into the German Sports Hall of Fame.

The extent of Kolbe’s sporting fame was highlighted when Hamburg sought to bid for the 2012 Olympic Games. The city invited Kolbe and Karppinen to perform as part of the bid process.

Kolbe suffered from dementia in his later years and in 2022 was hit by a car while riding his bike. He was most recently in a nursing home in Lubeck, Germany.