Spotlight on Rudern ? the German Rowing World

Struggling to find top rowers in Germany is not a problem. Struggling to pick who will make the number one crew is. With such a broad rowing base it is not surprising that the country has entries in 21 boat classes and a total of 88 athletes at Munich next week.

It is also not surprising that Germany has won the overall World Cup trophy every year since its inception in 1997 ? and often by huge margins. Last year they finished over 100 points ahead of the second-ranked country, Great Britain.

Andreas Hajek – an enviable track record
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Furthermore German rowing boasts an enviable stability. The athletes often remain in the sport for a number of years while some countries struggle to retain their rowers. Two of the German team’s longest-serving members are Andreas Hajek and Kathrin Boron. Hajek’s success includes an impressive collection of two Olympic golds ? the first from 1992 ? an Olympic bronze and a total of five World Championship golds. Originally from East Germany Hajek was already a successful athlete before reunification in 1991.

Kathrin Boron – back on form
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Kathrin Boron’s list of rowing achievements reads like a gold-digger’s wish list. Eight World Championship golds have been hung around her neck stretching back to 1989. She has also stood on the winner’s podium at the Olympic Games three times and after having a baby in 2002 demonstrated tremendous come-back ability to take second at Milan last month.

But it is World Champion single sculler Marcel Hacker and the men’s eight that are the most renowned of the team. The only non-yellow Empacher-designed boat to be seen at a regatta is the men’s eight. The distinctive boyish pink is resplendent on a frequently mono-coloured racecourse. Owing to the eight’s sponsors the crew is known as ?Telekomexpress.?

The majority of national team rowers are university students. Others are in the ?sports division? of the army and a few have part-time jobs. They receive partial funding through sponsorship and also from the state via the ?Sporthilife? program. Marcel Hacker is the only true ?professional? with sponsorship covering his funding.

Young rowers in Germany always start as scullers. Medical reasons form the basis of this way of thinking. The understanding is that muscle development in the back needs to be formed so the spine is protected before an athlete should start sweep rowing.

According to the Team’s press officer Cora Zillich, rowing continues to expand in Germany. More young people now row and the participation by older members has also increased spurred on by clubs becoming popular meeting places.