After the Race

About

Peter Bos was a member of the 1960 Olympic Men’s 8 crew team. Kraft Schepke was a member of the 1960 German Olympic Men’s crew.

Both Peter and Kraft rowed in the 5th seat of their boats in the final race in Rome, Italy as part of the Games of the XVII Olympiad.

Germany prevailed, and after the race, the two met to talk, and they traded jerseys – a popular ritual among rowers after races.

Peter kept Kraft’s jersey for many years, but then on the 50th anniversary of the race, he decided the jersey should be returned to Kraft. Peter located Kraft and emailed him.

The two men became friends because of their shared Olympic bond. They went on to row together in the Men’s Master’s Rowing Championships in 2018, where along with an American and a Norwegian, they won the Men’s 4 championship race in the Age 80-84 group.

Peter worked with authors Alec Sokolow and A.D. Lubow, and illustrator Mei Li, to create the book After the Race, to commemorate this story and to remind young people especially of what the Olympic spirit is all about.

Peter Bos (second from left) and Kraft Schepke (second from right) along with (name from Norway ) and (name from the US) after their victory in 2018 in the World Master’s Rowing Championship.