From the diving board to the blackboard: water jumper Patrick Hausding ends his career

From the diving platform to the blackboard

Water jumper Patrick Hausding ends his career


Tue 03.05.22 | 9:56 p.m. | Of Luke Witte

dpa / Michael Kappeler

Video: rbb24 | 04.05.2022 | Jonas Schuetzeberg | Picture: dpa / Michael Kappeler

One of the greatest in his sport is over: water jumper Patrick Hausding ends his career. Born in Berlin, he can look back on a time full of successes, but mental and physical stress. Now he is looking forward to his new life.

Olympic medal at the end

Before the last round of the competition, the two Germans were in sixth place, almost 15 points behind the medal ranks. But with one With an incredibly strong jump, the duo managed to push themselves forward and take bronze. “A lot of stones fell from my heart,” says Hausding. It should be his last medal.

Because the 33-year-old will announce his retirement from competitive sports on Wednesday. The reasons are several. “On the one hand, the Olympic Games in Tokyo were another sporting highlight for me. Secondly, with Corona and the war in Ukraine, it is currently difficult for us athletes to maintain the competitive character. And thirdly, it was already a bit planned for me anyway. I’m not the youngest anymore and I’ve experienced a lot. And life goes on at some point,” he told rbb in advance.

Hausding was considered the flagship of German water jumpers. He was 15 times European champion and won three Olympic medals. He probably celebrated his greatest success in 2013 in Barcelona, ​​where he became world champion in the 10m synchronized jumping. However, he himself cannot decide what the highlight of his career was: “There are many things that have come together over time. I can’t really prioritize it.”

In addition to the World Championship title and the Olympic medals in Tokyo (2021), Rio de Janeiro (2016) and Beijing (2008), he also names his home European Championships in Berlin in 2014 as one of the biggest events. Back then, Hausding won three gold medals in the swimming and jumping hall in the Europasportpark.

The life after

“It’s been a life worth living so far”

Professional athlete again? Hausding is ambiguous

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