Karl Adam (rowing coach)

Adam had a major impact on one of the most successful eras in German rowing history that started at the end of the 1950s. He was co-founder of the Ratzeburg Rowing Club in 1953 and head of the Rowing Academy there. He had never rowed or sculled before he started coaching.

A great innovator of rowing and training techniques, Adam's methods had a major impact on the further development of rowing. His rowing technique became known in the rowing world as the "Ratzeburg" style. Adam was the first to adapt fartlek, also known as speedplay, and interval training from track (athletics) to rowing. He pioneered a new, more efficient, oar design and was the first coach to use "bucket" or "German" rigging. (Typical rigging alternates between port and starboard rowers (e.g. PSPS). In German rigging, two starboard (or port) rowers sit directly behind one another, e.g. PSSP).

Between 1959 and 1967, his boats won seven titles at World and European Championships. In addition his eight won a gold medal at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, a silver medal at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, and a gold medal at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico. Nothing since has matched the impact of the sudden explosion of Ratzeburg and Karl Adam onto the rowing scene.