This photo went round the world:
In the M1X competition the favourite P.M. Kolbe (GER)
- World champion 1975 - led the field from the start
and looked the sure winner when he was nearly three
length clear. In the strong headwind however he slowed
down with 300 m to go, and 100 m before the finish
line he was overtaken by Pertti Karppinen (FIN). This
was the first gold medal for the Finn who managed to
repeat his success in 1980 at OG Moscow and in 1984
at OG Los Angeles (Lake Casitas). The fight between
Karppinen and Kolbe went on. 1980 Karppinen won
without much opposition as Kolbe could not start
because of Germany's boycott of the Games. But in
1984 Kolbe saw his chance again. The Olympic M1X
final then was a dramatic battle. Kolbe sculled in
front of his opponent for 1500 m but again had to
pay tribute to the amazing finish of Karppinen.
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