At the 1976 East German national championships, Bendiks rowed with the coxed pair and the women's eight; she came first and second, respectively.

[1][2] At the 1977 East German national championships, Bendiks won the coxed four title alongside Marion Rohs, Katja Rothe, Ilona Richter, and coxswain Marina Wilke.

[1][2] She went to the 1978 World Rowing Championships on Lake Karapiro in New Zealand as a reserve but did not compete.

[5] It was at those championships that she got closer to one of the male rowers whom she later married; Uli Schmied was also present as a reserve.

[6] At the 1980 East German national championships, Bendiks came third with the women's eight; again, the Olympic team members were absent from that competition.