Alexandra Föster rowed onto the podium on the final day of the European Championships. Oliver Zeidler was disappointing when he collapsed completely in the one-man competition. The overall German record at the European Championships remained extremely modest.
Those responsible for the German Rowing Association were all gathered on Sunday afternoon (08/14/2022) at the edge of the regatta course in Oberschleißheim to keep their fingers crossed for Oliver Zeidler in the last race of the championships. Would the shooting star of German rowing be able to improve Germany’s bad record at the European Championships?
And the 26-year-old seemed to be able to live up to the great expectations. In the last 700 meters of the 2,000-meter course, delivered a brilliant intermediate sprint, only to have to let the competition go in the end. In the last 200 meters, the German collapsed and ended up only fourth. Melvin Twellaar won ahead of Stefanos Ntouskous from Greece and Kristian Vasilev from Bulgaria.
Disastrous German overall result
This left the German Rowing Association with only three medals at the European Championships in their own country – two of which were won by the parasportsmen. A disastrous record. With a view to the World Championships in September, there can hardly be any hope.
Föster with a sensational final sprint
In one of the women, Alexandra Föster had previously delivered a hussar ride. The only 20-year-old, who came to the European Championships with the World Cup victory in Lucerne under her belt, still looked like she was sure of fourth place until shortly before the end, but then she ignited a real turbo in the last 300 meters. In the last few meters, she drove up to the Austrian Magdalena Lobnig with enormous speed – it almost even went to silver.
But the young lady from Sauerland was also very happy about bronze. Beaming, she repeatedly slapped the choppy water of the Oberschleißheim regatta course with the palm of her hand.
Women’s eight clearly beaten
The other nominated athletes from the Deutscher Rufderverband had less reason to be happy. The unsatisfactory balance was confirmed on the final day by the women’s eight, who finished far behind the victorious Romanian team in fifth place.
Dräger rows well past the medal
Marie Louise Dräger, who obviously wasn’t at her best, didn’t stand a chance in the final of the lightweight singles. The 41-year-old German started well in the 2,000-meter distance, but increasingly fell behind halfway through the distance. Ionela Cozmiuc from the strong Romanian team took the win.