Oliver Zeidler showed how fast he can row. Asia D’Amato vaulted to gold. Germany’s track cyclists were too fast for the competition – everything important on day 1 of the European Championships.
Rowing – first far back and then all the way forward
They were pictures like you have never seen from Oliver Zeidler. As Zeidler sat there in his one, his hands on the skulls. How then nothing worked at first. Apparently a technical error. The competitors made meters, Zeidler remained at the start. Later he said: “I’ve easily made a thousand starts at this point. Today was definitely one of the worst.”
You will remember Zeidler’s start, but above all you will not forget his race to catch up. Zeidler was the first to cross the finish line.
Zeidler, 26, is Germany’s best-known rower, and talent runs in the family. At the 1972 Olympics, Hans-Johann Färber won gold in the coxed four – 50 years later his nephew would like to emulate him in the one. We’re talking, you guessed it, about Zeidler. There is still a long way to go for Zeidler to the gold medal, first of all the semi-finals are on Sunday (13.08.2022).
The Germany eight was also successful. The newly assembled boat finished second behind the dominant British. This means that the boat around helmsman Jonas Wiesen can start in the middle in the final and tackle the targeted medal.
Gymnastics – Gold for Italy, Germany in the team final
The first medal of the European Championship goes to Italy. Artistic gymnast Asia D’Amato, 19, scored 54,732 points in the all-around, which was enough for gold. In general, the first day of the European Championships was a successful one for Italy’s gymnasts. Finally, bronze went to an Italian, Martina Maggio was happy with 53,965 points.
In artistic gymnastics, the German women confidently qualified for the team final on Saturday (08/13/2022). In the individual disciplines, four gymnasts still have the chance to win a medal. Emma Malewski and Pauline Schäfer-Betz will show their skills on the balance beam on Sunday, Elisabeth Seitz and Kim Bui will do gymnastics on the uneven bars.
Bahnrad – Germany’s women drive away from everyone
In the end, when Germany’s track cyclists had ridden away from everyone in the team sprint qualification, there was no sign of euphoria. A “good start”, that was it, said Pauline Grabosch. Not more. Together with Emma Hinze and Lea Sophie Friedrich, Grabosch was superior in the first competition, the lead over the Dutch women was almost four tenths of a second.
In any case, the trio had impressed, as did the quartet Lisa Brennauer, Franziska Brauße, Mieke Kröger and Lisa Klein. In the track cycling team pursuit, Germany’s “Team of the Year” was temporarily in third place behind Italy and France, at the finish they had a lead of 1.8222 seconds.
Things didn’t go so well for the men. It is questionable whether they can still compete for a medal.
Sport climbing – Schweiger surprises them all
Yannick Flohé, Christoph Schweiger, Alexander Megos – three German climbers reached the semifinals in men’s bouldering. Flohé and Schweiger competed against each other in a group and it was a surprise that Schweiger ended up third, ahead of Flohé.
In the women’s lead, Hannah Meul reached 13th place – that was also enough for the semi-finals.
BMX Freestyle – five out of six, the odds are right
“There is definitely more to come”, said BMX freestyler Lara Lessmann, 22, after qualifying third for the finals on Friday (08/12/2022). Among the men, Timo Schulze was the best German in eighth place. A total of five out of six starters reached the final, only for Michael Meisel the European Championship is over early.