Herbert Laabs is 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 in the early to mid 1970s. He won four medals at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships with a gold (K-4 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...

, two silvers (K-2 500 m and K-4 1000 m: both 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 ....

), and two bronzes (K-2 500 m and K-2 1000 m: 1973).

Laabs also competed in the K-4 1000 m

Canoeing at the 1972 Summer Olympics - Men's K-4 1000 metres

The men's K-4 1000 metres event was a fours kayaking event conducted as part of the Canoeing at the 1972 Summer Olympics program.-Medalists:-Heats:The 20 crews first raced in three heats on September 5...

 event at the 1972 Summer Olympics

1972 Summer Olympics

The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....

 in Munich

Munich

Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...

, but was eliminated in the semifinals.