Karl Heinz Schäfer, a flatwater canoeist, came sixth at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics with Meinrad Miltenberger in the K2 over 10,000 metres. He won the first of three German titles in the K2 over 1,000 metres in 1947 and in 1951 captured the K1 1,000 metres title, having finished third in 1948 and second in 1950. After finishing third in the K1 over 10,000 metres in 1951 and second in 1952, he eventually won the title in 1953, when he also finished third in the K1 over 1,000 metres.