Rüdiger Helm (born in Neubrandenburg

Neubrandenburg

Neubrandenburg is a city in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. It is located in the southeastern part of the state, on the shore of a lake called the Tollensesee ....

 on October 6, 1956) was an East German sprint canoer

Canoe racing

This article discusses canoe sprint and canoe marathon, competitive forms of canoeing and kayaking on more or less flat water. Both sports are governed by the International Canoe Federation ....

 who competed from the mid 1970s to the mid 1980s. Competing in two Summer Olympics, he won six medals which included three golds (1976

1976 Summer Olympics

The 1976 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 1976. Montreal was awarded the rights to the 1976 Games on May 12, 1970, at the 69th IOC Session in Amsterdam, over the bids of Moscow and...

: K-1 1000 m, 1980

1980 Summer Olympics

The 1980 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Moscow in the Soviet Union. In addition, the yachting events were held in Tallinn, and some of the preliminary matches and the quarter-finals of the football tournament...

: K-1 1000 m, K-4 1000 m) and three bronzes (1976: K-1 500 m, K-4 1000 m; 1980: K-2 500 m).

Helm also won 19 medals at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships with ten golds (K-1 1000 m: 1978

1978 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships

The 1978 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships were held in Belgrade, Yugoslavia for a record third time. The Yugoslavian city had previously hosted the championships in 1971 and 1975....

, 1979

1979 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships

The 1979 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships were held in Duisburg, West Germany.The men's competition consisted of six Canadian and nine kayak events. Three events were held for the women, all in kayak....

, 1981

1981 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships

The 1981 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships were held in Nottingham, Great Britain.The men's competition consisted of six Canadian and nine kayak events. Three events were held for the women, all in kayak....

, 1982

1982 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships

The 1982 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships were held in Belgrade, Yugoslavia for the record fourth time. The Yugoslavian city had host the championships previously in 1971, 1975, and 1978....

, 1983

1983 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships

The 1983 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships were held in Tampere, Finland for the second time. The Finnish city had host the championships previously in 1973.The men's competition consisted of six Canadian and nine kayak events...

; K-2 500 m: 1978, K-4 500 m: 1983, K-4 1000 m: 1978, 1979, 1981), six silvers (K-1 1000 m: 1977

1977 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships

The 1977 Canoe Sprint World Championships were held in Sofia, Bulgaria.The men's competition consisted of six Canadian and nine kayak events. Three events were held for the women, all in kayak...

, K-2 500 m: 1979, K-4 500 m: 1982, K-4 1000 m: 1975

1975 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships

The 1975 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships were held in Belgrade, Yugoslavia for the second time, having hosted them in 1971. This also equaled the most times a city had done so with Copenhagen, Denmark ....

, 1982, 1983), and three bronzes (K-1 1000 m: 1975, K-2 1000 m: 1974

1974 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships

The 1974 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships were held in Mexico City, Mexico in neighboring Xochimilco. This marked the first time the championships took place out side of Europe. , all championships have taken place either in Europe or North America...

, K-4 500 m: 1981).