The Boat Race, research and Sebastian Thormann

Thormann, 12 years competing for Germany

Pick the face of Germany’s men’s four over the last four years and it will be that of bowman, caller, GPS controller and steerer, Sebastian Thormann.

But last month at the E.On Hanse Canal Cup in Rendsburg, Germany, Thormann sat in seven seat of the victorious Cambridge University boat. The five-year-old cup stayed in the possession of Thormann for the fifth time ? four times with Germany and once with Cambridge.

So how did this 198cm tall, blonde doctor from the small German town of Wertheim who has represented Germany for over a decade come to be wearing the colours of the very English institution, Cambridge University Boat Club?

This year as a member of the German men’s sweep squad Thormann found himself the sole survivor of Germany’s once powerful men’s four. But at the World Rowing Championships in September Thormann had to cope with racing at the back end of the b-final.

?Normally we’re in the top three so it’s quite hard when you’re not as fast as you used to be,? Thormann mused before the race.

This followed a below par 2004 season when his 2002 World Champion men’s four struggled to find Olympic form and finished a disappointing seventh.

The highly competitive Thormann was not prepared to sit around waiting for miracles and after focusing his post-Olympic energies on his studies he looked to his future as a medical doctor, choosing a stint at Cambridge University, the university known by rowers more for its boat race than the courses provided.

Already a doctor ? Thormann earned the title a couple of months after racing at the Athens Olympics ? he plans to specialise in sports medicine and orthopaedics. His focus while at Cambridge will be on anterior knee pain.

?There are several problems for the knees because of rowing; the training load, the weights during weightlifting, the first part of the stroke when you catch the water and the knees are at a very close angle,? explains Thormann. ?Also for rowers who steer the boat the twist of the leg causes problems because the power doesn’t come linear through the knee.?

?I will examine around 200 Athletes, women and men, football players and rowers,? says Thormann who will work towards an MPhil in sports medicine.

?I’m going to Cambridge for my medical career, not because of rowing. If I can combine it with rowing that would be great. I will try for the Cambridge top boat.? 

Thormann moved to England in September and has already begun his studies at Cambridge University’s Addenbrookes Hospital. ?The beginning is quite hard, getting used to the British health care system and the new life here.? But Thormann exudes enthusiasm for his new team.

?The rowers here are all very nice guys and we have a very good team together. Not only the crew which competed at Rendsburg, but the whole team ? rowers, coaches and everyone who supports rowing in Cambridge.?

In recent years stakes in the 156-year-old Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race have risen to such a level that the athletes involved become mini-celebrities and publicity surrounding the event goes on for months culminating in the April 2006 race. Last year television viewing worldwide topped 100 million.

Today both the Cambridge and Oxford boats boast an international crew that easily outnumbers their British teammates. This year Thormann joins the mix of hopefuls that already includes rowers from the United States, Germany and Canada.

German men’s four with Thormann in bow

Thormann is now adjusting to the differences in training after being part of the German system since 1993.

?The season here is only half a year and everything is focused on The Boat Race,? says Thormann. ?The most important thing is to be a team, coaches as well as rowers. Having the opportunity to train and compete with so many different athletes from different national teams is amazing.?

Selection for the top boat began as soon as Thormann arrived. ?We started with a 2km erg test and a triathlon one week later. We compete in the eight as well as in the pair on the water.?

?I will not tell all the secrets of how we train at Cambridge because we want to beat Oxford and for that our preparation has to be better than theirs. But I can say we still row!?

Thormann’s days are now full: ?During the week we meet at 6:30am for weights, gymnastics or the erg. At 8:30am I am on my way to Addenbrookes Hospital to do my research. We meet again at 1:30pm for a rowing session. Normally we come back at 5pm using the rest of the day for studying, social life and work.?

Further down the line Thormann is eyeing up his chances of competing at Beijing for Germany. ?If the selection policy of the German Federation changes then yes,? says Thormann. ?But this year I couldn’t understand how they chose the boats.?

Thormann got into rowing when he was fourteen. ?We moved to a new town and our house was 400 metres from the rowing club. Before rowing I did gymnastics. I was tall and strong so from the beginning I won everything.?

But Thormann lacked competition locally. ?One time I rowed into the embankment in a race, got out and still finished first. I was 15 years old.?

Fifteen years later the racing could be all about one very traditional Boat Race.

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Canal Cup goes to Cambridge

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