The 1979 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships were held in Duisburg

Duisburg

- History :A legend recorded by Johannes Aventinus holds that Duisburg, was built by the eponymous Tuisto, mythical progenitor of Germans, ca. 2395 BC...

, West Germany

West Germany

West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....

.

The men's competition consisted of six Canadian

Canoe

A canoe or Canadian canoe is a small narrow boat, typically human-powered, though it may also be powered by sails or small electric or gas motors. Canoes are usually pointed at both bow and stern and are normally open on top, but can be decked over A canoe (North American English) or Canadian...

 (single paddle, open boat) and nine kayak

Kayak

A kayak is a small, relatively narrow, human-powered boat primarily designed to be manually propelled by means of a double blade paddle.The traditional kayak has a covered deck and one or more cockpits, each seating one paddler...

 events. Three events were held for the women, all in kayak.

This was the fifteenth championships in canoe sprint. It was where an incident later referred to as The Česiunas Affair took place when Soviet

Soviet Union

The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....

-born Lithuania

Lithuania

Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...

n 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 ....

 Vladas Česiūnas

Vladas Cesiunas

Vladislovas "Vladas" Česiūnas is a Soviet-born Lithuanian sprint canoer who competed in the early 1970s. He won one Olympic medal and six ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships medals during his career...

 appeared at the event as a spectator only to vanish. The West German

West Germany

West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....

 government claimed Česiunas had defected, but the former canoer had returned to the Soviet Union

Soviet Union

The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....

 voluntarily several weeks later. During Česiunas' disappearance, he would speak in favor of the 1980 Summer Olympics boycott, more than two months before the Soviet war in Afghanistan

Soviet war in Afghanistan

The Soviet war in Afghanistan was a nine-year conflict involving the Soviet Union, supporting the Marxist-Leninist government of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan against the Afghan Mujahideen and foreign "Arab–Afghan" volunteers...

, but later returned to the Soviet Embassy in Bonn

Bonn

Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999....

. The Soviets toned down their rhetoric about Česiunas' "disappearance" in the West and changed his mind all the while West Germany continued to maintain that he had been kidnapped.

Canoe

Event	Gold	Time	Silver	Time	Bronze	Time
C-1 500 m
C-1 1000 m
C-1 10000 m
C-2 500 m	Romania Ivan Patzaichin Ivan Patzaichin Ivan Patzaichin is a Romanian sprint canoer who competed from the late 1960s to the mid 1980s. Competing in five Summer Olympics, he won seven medals, more than any other competitor in the history of the Canadian canoeing events... Istvan Capsuta		Soviet Union Sergey Petrenko Aleksandr Vinogradov Aleksandr Vinogradov Aleksandr Vinogradov is a Soviet-born Russian sprint canoer who competed from the early 1970s to the early 1980s...		Marek Łbik Piotr Pawlowski Piotr Pawlowski Piotr Pawlowski is a Polish sprint canoer who competed in the late 1970s. He won a bronze medal in the C-2 500 m event at the 1979 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships in Duisburg.-References:**...
C-2 1000 m	Soviet Union Vasiliy Jurtzhenko Yuriy Lobanov		Hungary Tamás Buday Tamás Buday Tamás Buday is a Hungarian sprint canoer who competed from the mid 1970s to the early 1980s. Competing in two Summer Olympics, he won bronze medals in the C-2 500 m and C-2 1000 m events at Montreal in 1976.... Oszkár Frey Oszkár Frey Oszkár Frey is a Hungarian sprint canoer who competed from the mid 1970s to the early 1980s. Competing in two Summer Olympics, he won bronze medals in the C-2 500 m and C-2 1000 m events at Montreal in 1976....		Romania Toma Simionov Toma Simionov Toma Simionov is a Romanian sprint canoer who competed from the late 1970s to the early 1980s. Competing in two Summer Olympics, he won three medals with two gold and one silver .Simionov also won nine medals at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships with three golds Toma Simionov (born October... Gheorghe Simionov Gheorghe Simionov Gheorghe Simionov is a Romanian sprint canoer who competed from the late 1960s to the late 1970s. He won a silver in the C-2 1000 m event at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal....
C-2 10000 m	Soviet Union Vasiliy Jurtzhenko Yuriy Lobanov		Romania Cherasim Munteanu Cherasim Munteanu Cherasim Munteanu is a Romanian sprint canoer who competed in the 1970s. He won three medals at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships with two silvers and a bronze .-References:**... Gheorge Titu Gheorge Titu Gheorghe Titu is a Romanian sprint canoer who competed from the late 1970s to the mid 1980s. He won three medals at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships with two silvers and a bronze ....		Hungary Tamás Buday Tamás Buday Tamás Buday is a Hungarian sprint canoer who competed from the mid 1970s to the early 1980s. Competing in two Summer Olympics, he won bronze medals in the C-2 500 m and C-2 1000 m events at Montreal in 1976.... László Vaskúti László Vaskúti László Vaskúti is a Hungarian sprint canoer who competed from the late 1970s to the mid 1980s. He won five medals in the C-2 10000 m event at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships with three golds and two bronzes ....

Kayak

Event	Gold	Time	Silver	Time	Bronze	Time
K-1 500 m
K-1 1000 m
K-1 10000 m
K-2 500 m	Soviet Union Vladimir Parfenovich Vladimir Parfenovich Vladimir Parfenovich is a Soviet-born Belarus sprint canoer who competed from the late 1970s to the early 1980s. He later became involved in politics for his home country of Belarus.-Sport:... Sergey Zhuchray		Bernd Olbricht Bernd Olbricht Bernd Olbricht is an East German sprint canoer who competed in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Competing in two Summer Olympics, he won four medals with two golds , one silver , and one bronze .Olbricht also won six medals at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships... Rüdiger Helm Rüdiger Helm Rüdiger Helm was an East German sprint canoer who competed from the mid 1970s to the mid 1980s...		Alain Lebas Alain Lebas Alain Lebas is a French sprint canoer who competed from the late 1970s to the early 1980s. Competing in two Summer Olympics, he won a silver medal in the K-1 1000 m event at Moscow in 1980.... Francis Hervieu Francis Hervieu Francis Hervieu is a French sprint canoer who competed from the late 1970s to the mid 1980s. He won a bronze medal in the K-2 500 m event at the 1979 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships in Duisburg....
K-2 1000 m	Einar Rasmussen Einar Rasmussen Einar Rasmussen is a Norwegian sprint canoer who competed from the mid 1970s to the late 1980s. He won ten medals at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships with four golds , three silvers , and three bronzes Einar Rasmussen (born 16 July 1956) is a Norwegian sprint canoer who competed from the... Olaf Søyland Olaf Søyland Olaf Søyland is a Norwegian sprint canoer who competed in the mid to late 1970s. He won three medals at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships with two golds and a silver ....		Hungary Zoltán Bakó Zoltán Bakó Zoltán Bakó is a Hungarian sprint canoer who competed during the 1970s. Competing in two Summer Olympics, he won a bronze medal in the K-2 1000 m event at Montreal in 1976.... István Szabó István Szabó (canoer) István Szabó is a Hungarian sprint canoer who competed from the early 1970s to the mid 1980s. Competing in three Summer Olympics, he won two medals in the K-2 1000 m event with a silver in 1980 and a bronze in 1976....		Soviet Union Sergey Zhuchray Vladimir Trainikov Vladimir Trainikov Vladimir Trainikov is a Soviet sprint canoer who competed in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He won four medals at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships with a gold , a silver , and two bronzes .Trainikov also finished seventh in the K-4 1000 m event at the 1980 Summer Olympics in...
K-2 10000 m	Romania Nicuşor Eşanu Nicusor Esanu Nicuşor Eşanu is a Romanian sprint canoer who competed from the late 1970s to the early 1980s. Competing in two Summer Olympics, he won a silver medal in the K-4 1000 m event at Moscow in 1980.... Ion Bîrlădeanu Ion Bîrladeanu Ion Bîrlǎdeanu is a Romanian sprint canoer who competed in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He won a bronze medal in the K-1 1000 m event at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow....		Soviet Union Nikolay Astapkovich Nikolay Astapkovich Nikolay Astapkovich is a Soviet sprint canoer who competed in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He won eight medals at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships with three golds , four silvers and a bronze Nikolay Astapkovich is a Soviet sprint canoer who competed in the late 1970s and early 1980s.... Vladimir Romanovskiy		Spain Herminio Menéndez Herminio Menéndez Herminio Menéndez Rodríguez is a Spanish sprint canoer who competed from the early 1970s to the mid 1980s... Luis Gregario Ramos
K-4 500 m	Bernd Duvigneau Bernd Duvigneau Bernd Duvigneau is an East German sprint canoer who competed in the late 1970s and early 1980s... Harald Marg Harald Marg Harald Marg is an East German sprint canoer who competed from the mid 1970s to the mid 1980s. At the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, he won the gold medal in the K-4 1000 m event.... Jürgen Dittrich Jürgen Dittrich Jürgen Dittrich is an East German sprint canoer who competed in the late 1970s. He won a gold medal in the K-4 500 m event at the 1979 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships in Duisburg.-References:**... Roland Graupner Roland Graupner Roland Graupner is an East German sprint canoer who competed in the late 1970s. He won two gold medals in the K-4 500 m event at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships, earning them in 1978 and 1979.-References:**...		Soviet Union Sergey Zhinkarenko Sergey Zhinkarenko Sergey Zhinkarenko is a Soviet sprint canoer who competed in the late 1970s. He won a silver medal in the K-4 500 m event at the 1979 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships in Duisburg.-References:**... Ionas Sautra Ionas Sautra Ionas Sautra is a Soviet sprint canoer who competed in the late 1970s. He won two medals at the 1979 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships in Duisburg with a silver in the K-4 500 m and a bronze in the K-4 1000 m events.-References:**... Sergey Zhuchray Vladimir Trainikov Vladimir Trainikov Vladimir Trainikov is a Soviet sprint canoer who competed in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He won four medals at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships with a gold , a silver , and two bronzes .Trainikov also finished seventh in the K-4 1000 m event at the 1980 Summer Olympics in...		Ryszard Oborski Ryszard Oborski Ryszard Oborski is a Polish sprint canoer who competed from the mid 1970s to the mid 1980s. He won ten medals at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships with three golds , two silvers , and five bronzes Ryszard Oborski (born May 2, 1952 in Poznań) is a Polish sprint canoer who competed from the... Daniel Wełna Daniel Wełna Daniel Zygmunt Wełna is a Polish sprint canoer who competed in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He won seven medals at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships with two golds , two silvers , and three bronzes .Wełna also competed... Grzegorz Kołtan Grzegorz Kołtan Grzegorz Kołtan is a Polish sprint canoer who competed from the mid to late 1970s. He won six medals at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships with two golds , a silver , and three bronzes .Kołtan also competed in two Summer Olympics, earning his best finish of... Grzegorz Śledziewski Grzegorz Śledziewski Grzegorz Śledziewski is a Polish sprint canoer who competed from the early 1970s to the early 1980s. He won fifteen medals at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships with three golds , five silvers , and seven...
K-4 1000 m	Bernd Duvigneau Bernd Duvigneau Bernd Duvigneau is an East German sprint canoer who competed in the late 1970s and early 1980s... Rüdiger Helm Rüdiger Helm Rüdiger Helm was an East German sprint canoer who competed from the mid 1970s to the mid 1980s... Harald Marg Harald Marg Harald Marg is an East German sprint canoer who competed from the mid 1970s to the mid 1980s. At the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, he won the gold medal in the K-4 1000 m event.... Bernd Olbricht Bernd Olbricht Bernd Olbricht is an East German sprint canoer who competed in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Competing in two Summer Olympics, he won four medals with two golds , one silver , and one bronze .Olbricht also won six medals at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships...		Ryszard Oborski Ryszard Oborski Ryszard Oborski is a Polish sprint canoer who competed from the mid 1970s to the mid 1980s. He won ten medals at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships with three golds , two silvers , and five bronzes Ryszard Oborski (born May 2, 1952 in Poznań) is a Polish sprint canoer who competed from the... Daniel Wełna Daniel Wełna Daniel Zygmunt Wełna is a Polish sprint canoer who competed in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He won seven medals at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships with two golds , two silvers , and three bronzes .Wełna also competed... Grzegorz Kołtan Grzegorz Kołtan Grzegorz Kołtan is a Polish sprint canoer who competed from the mid to late 1970s. He won six medals at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships with two golds , a silver , and three bronzes .Kołtan also competed in two Summer Olympics, earning his best finish of... Grzegorz Śledziewski Grzegorz Śledziewski Grzegorz Śledziewski is a Polish sprint canoer who competed from the early 1970s to the early 1980s. He won fifteen medals at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships with three golds , five silvers , and seven...		Soviet Union Aleksandr Shaporenko Sergey Nagomy Aleksandr Avdeyev Ionas Sautra Ionas Sautra Ionas Sautra is a Soviet sprint canoer who competed in the late 1970s. He won two medals at the 1979 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships in Duisburg with a silver in the K-4 500 m and a bronze in the K-4 1000 m events.-References:**...
K-4 10000 m	Soviet Union Aleksandr Shaporenko Sergey Nikolskiy Sergey Nikolskiy Sergey Nikolskiy is a Soviet sprint canoer who competed in the mid to late 1970s. He won five medals at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships with four golds , and a silver .... Volodymyr Morozov Volodymyr Morozov (1952 canoer) Vladimir Ivanovich Morozov was a Soviet sprint canoer who competed in the late 1970s... Aleksandr Avdeyev		Andrzej Klimaszewski Andrzej Klimaszewski Andrzej Klimaszewski is a Polish sprint canoer who competed from the late 1970s to the mid 1980s. He won five medals in the K-4 10000 m at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships with three silvers and two bronzes .Klimaszewski competed in the K-2 1000 m event at the 1980 Summer Olympics in... Krzysztof Lepianka Krzysztof Lepianka Krzysztof Lepianka is a Polish sprint canoer who competed in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He won three medals in the K-4 10000 m at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships with two silvers and a bronze .... Zbigniew Torzecki Zbigniew Torzecki Zbigniew Torzecki is a Polish sprint canoer who competed in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He won three medals in the K-4 10000 m at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships with two silvers and a bronze .-References:**... Zdzisław Szubski Zdzisław Szubski Zdzisław Szubski is a Polish sprint canoer who competed in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He won four medals in the K-4 10000 m at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships with three silvers and a bronze .Szubski also finished seventh in the K-2 500 m event at the 1980 Summer Olympics in...		Hungary Támás Benkó Támás Benkö Támás Benkö is a Hungarian sprint canoer who competed in the late 1970s. He won a bronze medal in the K-4 10000 m at the 1979 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships in Duisburg.-References:**... Péter Konecsny Péter Konecsny Péter Konecsny is a Hungarian sprint canoer who competed in the late 1970s. He won a bronze medal in the K-4 10000 m at the 1979 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships in Duisburg.-References:**... László Szabó László Szabó (canoer) László Szabó is a Hungarian sprint canoer who competed in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He won a bronze medal in the K-4 10000 m at the 1979 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships in Duisburg.... Zoltán Romhany

Kayak

Event	Gold	Time	Silver	Time	Bronze	Time
K-1 500 m
K-2 500 m	Soviet Union Natalya Kalashinkova Natalya Kalashinkova Natalya Kalashinkova is a Soviet sprint canoer who competed in the late 1970s and early 1980s. She won three medals at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships with a gold and two silvers .-References:... Nina Doroh Nina Doroh Nina Doroh is a Soviet sprint canoer who competed in the late 1970s. She won a complete set of medals at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships with a gold , a silver K-2 500 m: 1978), and a bronze .-References:**...		Marion Rösiger Marion Rösiger Marion Rösiger is a German sprint canoer who competed in the late 1970s. She won six medals at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships with four golds and two silvers .... Martina Bischof Martina Bischof Martina Bischof is a German sprint canoer who competed in the late 1970s and early 1980s...		Romania Agafia Orlov Natasia Nichitov
K-4 500 m	Marion Rösiger Marion Rösiger Marion Rösiger is a German sprint canoer who competed in the late 1970s. She won six medals at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships with four golds and two silvers .... Martina Bischof Martina Bischof Martina Bischof is a German sprint canoer who competed in the late 1970s and early 1980s... Birgit Fischer Birgit Fischer Birgit Fischer is a kayaker, who has won eight gold medals over six different Olympic Games, a record she shares with Aladár Gerevich, spanning seven Olympiads: twice representing East Germany , then four times representing the reunited nation... Roswitha Eberl Roswitha Eberl Roswitha Eberl is an East German sprint canoer who competed in the late 1970s. She won six gold medals at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships with two in the K-1 500 m and four in the K-4 500 m event ....		Soviet Union Galina Alekseyeva Nadezhda Trachimenok Nadezhda Trachimenok Nadezhda Trachimenok is a Soviet sprint canoer who competed in the mid 1970s. She won two silver medals in the K-4 500 m event at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships, earning them in 1975 and 1979.-References:**... Tatyana Korzhunova Larissa Nadviga Larissa Nadviga Larissa Nadviga is a Soviet sprint canoer who competed in the late 1970s and the early 1980s. She won two silver medals in the K-4 500 m event at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships, earning them in 1979 and 1981.-References:**...		Romania Agafia Orlov Natasia Nichitov Maria Nicolae Maria Nicolae Maria Nicolae is a Romanian sprint canoer who competed in the late 1970s. She won two bronze medals in the K-4 500 m event at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships, earning them in 1978 and 1979.-References:**... Adriana Tarasov Adriana Tarasov Adriana Tarasov is a Romanian sprint canoer who competed in the late 1970s. She won a bronze medal in the K-4 500 m event at the 1979 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships in Duisburg.-References:**...

Medals table

1	Soviet Union	7	6	3	16
2	Romania	2	2	5	9
3		5	2	1	8
4	Hungary	2	2	3	7
5		0	2	2	4
6		1	1	0	2
7	Bulgaria	0	1	1	2
8		1	0	0	1
9		0	1	0	1
10		0	1	0	1
11		0	0	1	1
12		0	0	1	1
13	Spain	0	0	1	1
Total		18	18	18	54