 Whilst Draeger was nominated for the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, he went as a reserve only and did not compete.It was Güldenpfennig who competed in the single scull at the Olympics, and he won a bronze medal.Draeger regained some of his form in 1973, when he came third in the 1973 East German championships in single scull (Güldenpfennig came first, and Joachim Dreifke was second).