Thomas Zereske
Encyclopedia
Thomas Zereske (May 22, 1966 – June 28, 2004) is a German
, originally East German, sprint canoer
who competed from 1988 to 2000.
, 1998
), three silver medals (C-1 200 m: 1995
, C-1 500 m: 1990
, C-2 200 m: 1990), and five bronze medals (C-1 1000 m: 1990, C-2 200 m: 1999
, C-2 500 m: 1997, 1998; C-4 500 m: 1991
).
Competing in three Summer Olympics, Zereske earned his best finish of fifth place three times (C-1 500 m
: 1996
for Germany, C-2 500 m: 1988
for East Germany, 2000
for Germany).
As the German national championships, Zereske won two C-1 200 m, three C-2 200 m, and four C-4 200 m titles. He also won national championship in C-1 500 m three times and C-1 10000 m once. Zereske earnd a German national championship in the C-2 500 m event in 1997.
racing national team. As a coach, his teams won a complete set of medals in 2002 with a gold in the women's 500 m, a silver in the men's 500 m, and a bronze in the men's 250 m; and two silver medals in 2003. The 2003 silvers were in the men's 500 m and women's 500 m events.
, Zereske died of leukemia
in 2004. Zereske had only been diagnosed with leukemia five days prior to his death. His former canoeing partner Christian Gille
wore a black armband in honor of Zereske during the 2004 Summer Olympic sprint canoeing events
. After Gille and his current teammate won the gold in the C-2 1000 m event
at those games, Gille dedicated the medal to his fallen teammate.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, originally 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 1988 to 2000.
Sporting career
Zereske won ten medals at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships with two gold medals (C-2 200 m: 19971997 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships
The 1997 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships were held in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada on Lake Banook.The men's competition consisted of nine Canadian and nine kayak events. Eight events were held for the women, all in kayak...
, 1998
1998 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships
The 1998 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships were held in Szeged, Hungary.The men's competition consisted of nine Canadian and nine kayak events. Women competed in eight events, all in kayak....
), three silver medals (C-1 200 m: 1995
1995 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships
The 1995 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships were held in Duisburg, Germany for the third time. The German city had hosted the event previously in 1979 and 1987 when it was part of West Germany....
, C-1 500 m: 1990
1990 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships
The 1990 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships were held in Poznań, Poland on Lake Malta.The men's competition consisted of eight Canadian and nine kayak events. Five events were held for the women, all in kayak....
, C-2 200 m: 1990), and five bronze medals (C-1 1000 m: 1990, C-2 200 m: 1999
1999 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships
The 1999 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships were held in Milan, Italy at the Idroscalo.The men's competition consisted of nine Canadian and nine kayak events. Women competed in eight events, all kayak....
, C-2 500 m: 1997, 1998; C-4 500 m: 1991
1991 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships
The 1991 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships were held in Paris, France.The men's competition consisted of eight Canadian and nine kayak events. Five events were held for the women, all in kayak...
).
Competing in three Summer Olympics, Zereske earned his best finish of fifth place three times (C-1 500 m
Canoeing at the 1996 Summer Olympics - Men's C-1 500 metres
The men's C-1 500 metres event was an open-style, individual canoeing event conducted as part of the Canoeing at the 1996 Summer Olympics program.-Medallists:-Heats:17 competitors were entered...
: 1996
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
for Germany, C-2 500 m: 1988
Canoeing at the 1988 Summer Olympics - Men's C-2 500 metres
The men's C-2 500 metres event was an open-style, pairs canoeing event conducted as part of the Canoeing at the 1988 Summer Olympics program.-Medalists:-Heats:17 teams entered in three heats on September 26...
for East Germany, 2000
Canoeing at the 2000 Summer Olympics - Men's C-2 500 metres
The men's C-2 500 metres event was an open-style, pairs canoeing event conducted as part of the Canoeing at the 2000 Summer Olympics program.-Medalists:-Heats:15 teams entered in two heats...
for Germany).
As the German national championships, Zereske won two C-1 200 m, three C-2 200 m, and four C-4 200 m titles. He also won national championship in C-1 500 m three times and C-1 10000 m once. Zereske earnd a German national championship in the C-2 500 m event in 1997.
Coaching career
After Zereske retired from canoeing, he became a coach of the German Dragon BoatDragon boat
A dragon boat is a human-powered watercraft traditionally made, in the Pearl River delta region of southern China - Guangdong Province, of teak wood to various designs and sizes. In other parts of China different woods are used to build these traditional watercraft...
racing national team. As a coach, his teams won a complete set of medals in 2002 with a gold in the women's 500 m, a silver in the men's 500 m, and a bronze in the men's 250 m; and two silver medals in 2003. The 2003 silvers were in the men's 500 m and women's 500 m events.
Death
A native of NeubrandenburgNeubrandenburg
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 ....
, Zereske died of leukemia
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
in 2004. Zereske had only been diagnosed with leukemia five days prior to his death. His former canoeing partner Christian Gille
Christian Gille
Christian Gille is a German flatwater canoer who has competed since the mid 1990s.A junior world champion in 1993, he won two senior world championship gold medals with Thomas Zereske in the C-2 200 m sprint in 1997 and 1998...
wore a black armband in honor of Zereske during the 2004 Summer Olympic sprint canoeing events
Canoeing at the 2004 Summer Olympics
Canoeing at the 2004 Summer Olympics was held at the Schinias Olympic Rowing and Canoeing Centre for the sprint events and the Olympic Canoe/Kayak Slalom Centre at the Helliniko Olympic Complex for the canoe and kayak slalom disciplines....
. After Gille and his current teammate won the gold in the C-2 1000 m event
Canoeing at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Men's C-2 1000 metres
These are the results of the men's C-2 1000 metres competition in canoeing at the 2004 Summer Olympics. The C-2 event is raced by two-man sprint canoes.-Medalists:-Heats:...
at those games, Gille dedicated the medal to his fallen teammate.