# Heinz Renneberg

**Heinz Renneberg** (Karlheinz "Heinz" Renneberg; 29 January 1927 – 21 October 1999) was a West German rower who won the gold medal in the men's coxed pairs at the 1960 Rome Olympics, rowing with [Bernhard Knubel](https://www.edgepedia.org/bernhard-knubel) and the 13-year-old coxswain Klaus Zerta for the Unified Team of Germany<sup>[1](https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/37966)</sup>. Eight years earlier he had competed at Helsinki 1952 in the coxless pairs without reaching the final<sup>[1](https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/37966)</sup>.

| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born / died | 29 January 1927, Gelsenkirchen; 21 October 1999, Herne, Nordrhein-Westfalen<sup>[1](https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/37966)</sup> |
| Measurements | 182 cm / 87 kg<sup>[1](https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/37966)</sup> |
| Club | RV Gelsenkirchen, Gelsenkirchen<sup>[1](https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/37966)</sup> |
| 1952 Olympics | Coxless pairs with Heinz Eichholz; did not start the repêchage after Eichholz fell ill with nettle rash<sup>[1](https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/37966)</sup> |
| 1960 Olympics | Gold, coxed pairs, Unified Team of Germany, final time 7:29.14<sup>[1](https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/37966)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[2](https://www.rowinghistory-aus.info/olympic-games/1960-rome)</sup> |
| National titles | German champion in the coxless pairs 1951 and 1952, runners-up 1953<sup>[1](https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/37966)</sup> |
| Profession | Machine fitter<sup>[1](https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/37966)</sup> |

## Early career and Helsinki 1952

Partnered with Heinz Eichholz, he won the German championship in the coxless pairs in 1951 and 1952 and finished runners-up in 1953<sup>[1](https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/37966)</sup>.

At the 1952 Helsinki Games the pair lost their heat in the coxless pairs and then could not take part in the repêchage, the second-chance round, because Eichholz fell ill with nettle rash, ending their regatta<sup>[1](https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/37966)</sup>.

## Rome 1960

The trio entered the final as favorites, since Germany had won the last four European Championships in the event in addition to a silver medal at the 1956 Olympics, and they won with ease, finishing in 7:29.14 ahead of the Soviet Union (7:30.17) and the United States (7:34.58)<sup>[3](https://www.olympedia.org/results/158347)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[2](https://www.rowinghistory-aus.info/olympic-games/1960-rome)</sup>. The margin over the Soviet boat was about 1.03 seconds<sup>[4](https://www.xn--meb.pisz.pl/Heinz_Renneberg)</sup>. The victory made the 13-year-old Zerta the youngest medalist of any kind at those Games<sup>[3](https://www.olympedia.org/results/158347)</sup>.

## Later life and recognition

By profession Renneberg was a machine fitter<sup>[1](https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/37966)</sup>. He died in Herne on 21 October 1999 at the age of 72<sup>[1](https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/37966)</sup>.

## References

1. [Olympedia – Heinz Renneberg](https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/37966)
2. [1960 Rome Olympic Games, Australian Rowing History](https://www.rowinghistory-aus.info/olympic-games/1960-rome)
3. [Olympedia – Coxed Pairs, Men (1960)](https://www.olympedia.org/results/158347)
4. [Heinz Renneberg – Encyklopedia internetowa](https://www.xn--meb.pisz.pl/Heinz_Renneberg)

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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Individual sports and outdoor recreation › Water sports › Rowers and coxswains › German and East German rowers › West German rowers*

*Initially written Oct 20, 2026 · Edited: Oct 25, 2026*

*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*

License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license