They are considered medal guarantors and have delivered once again, the German canoeists. In the fight for gold, silver and bronze, the entire world elite gathered in Nova Scotia – a World Cup very close and yet so far.
The black heel clicked loudly on the asphalt on Saturday. “Flag party to the left”, the command sounded and the three soldiers started to move. Three figures in suits, without facial expressions, lined with gold decorations on the lapels and the red maple leaf on the chest. With the national flags of the medal winners draped over their forearms, they marched to the award ceremony. A picture that was often repeated at the past World Cup weekend.
The exceptional talent withstood the pressure
During the ceremony, Jacob Schopf’s legs trembled on the boardwalk behind the regatta house. He grinned, but it wasn’t possible to stand still after the race – not yet. The lactate in the blood shot through Schopf’s body. His girlfriend Emily, who had secretly traveled to Canada to surprise him, hung the medal around his neck. A quick kiss and a tuft seemed more than satisfied. Two medals, silver in the fours and bronze in the ones in just one hour, it was hard work for the 23-year-old.
“In the last few meters I only saw stars and water was splashing everywhere. We drove our best race this season, we’ve never been so close to the Spaniards before.”, the Potsdamer described it. The pressure beforehand was great, because the men’s K4 is considered the figurehead of the association. Schopf has taken the vacant place in the foursome of the great Ronald Rauhes, who ended his career last year. Together with his teammate from KC Potsdam, Max Lemke, he was able to enjoy the silver medal.
New Scotland enchants the canoeists and their world championships
It was a special World Championship, not as usual on the big, well-known regatta courses in Europe. Nova Scotia or Nova Scotia is a peninsula located at the very east coast of Canada. The area exudes the charm of the endless expanse of the Atlantic. Unusual 27 degrees are the first harbingers of Indian Summers. Wide streets, big cars that would hardly find a parking space in European cities, and a sea of electricity pylons meander through huge mixed forests and lakes.
The canoe world championship had the small town Dartmouth at Halifax firmly under control: posters hung everywhere, Canada flags blew from the balconies around the little one “Lake Banook”. A boardwalk crowded with spectators in fan shirts meandered along the shore.
“I’m overwhelmed by what they’ve done here”
Slushed ice burgerspizza and bagels in small tents didn’t let anyone starve here. One of the local canoe clubs was even immortalized on the beer cans. “I’m overwhelmed by what they’ve done here. The atmosphere is extremely good, there are fans all along the bank and cheering, it gets really loud when we paddle past.”said Schopf with shining eyes.
300 children paddle daily in summer on the 1,000 meter long lake. Canoeing is a popular sport here. “Canada is a canoe-loving country, the fans are great. There are over 600 working volunteers, this is a huge canoe family. The people are friendly and help everywhere”explained Olympic champion Sebastian Brendel.
“I’m happy to finally be a real world champion”
For Brendel himself, the World Cup turned into a mammoth program. “We train all year round, work every day in winter without measuring. That’s why I can hardly wait until the competitions finally start.”, described Brendel. The king of Canadians started four times and can bring home three medals, including gold in the doubles over 1,000 meters with his Berlin partner, Tim Hecker.
For Brendel it was the 13th gold medal, for Hecker (Sportclub Berlin-Grünau) the first title: “It was super cool, a mega race. I’m happy to finally have a real world title.” The frustration with fourth place on the Olympic distance from the day before was forgotten.
And at least two other people beamed, Tim Hecker’s parents, wrapped in a flag, with a cowboy hat and make-up on their faces, all in the German colors. “It’s just awesome, it’s always incredibly nice to have your biggest supporters with you. They’ve always been there from the start, it’s just amazing.”added the 24-year-old Berliner.
Successful performance for the German Canoe Association
It was a successful World Championships for the German Canoe Association, with a total of 14 medals, two gold, seven silver and five bronze, even if there was no victory in the Olympic disciplines. “We did very well in a difficult year, due to the corona virus, but also in the balancing act between studies, training and sport. Above all, the four Olympic medals give us hope for Paris.”classified the national coach diagnosis, Tina Kövari.
From the perspective of Berlin and Brandenburg, the winners were Annika Loske (two silvers), Sophie Koch (silver), Jacob Schopf (silver, bronze), Sebastian Brendel (gold, silver, bronze), Tim Hecker (gold), Martin Hiller (gold), Tamasz Grossmann (gold) and Max Lemke (silver) the medals.
And then it was over, this World Cup. The marched one last time “flag party” to the masts. In the grandstand, the Canadian canoe president gave the floor to the German canoe, because Duisburg will host the world title fights next year. The spectator area had already thinned out considerably. Only two noble fans were still there, holding up the German flag and taking every World Cup moment with them, down to the smallest detail – Jessy and Thomas Hecker, proud world champion parents.
Show: rbb24, 8/8/22, 9:45 p.m
