“I don’t know that it is enough for gold”
German Olympic star wins EM titles
24.05.2025 – 9:50 a.m.Reading time: 2 min.
She has already won bronze at the Olympics. Now Lena Hentschel with Luis Avila Sanchez was able to look forward to gold in the mixed synchronized competition.
She has expanded her medal collection: The German water jumper Lena Hentschel, together with Luis Avila Sanchez, won EM gold in the mixed synchronized competition from the 3-meter board. For the German Swimming Association (DSV) it was the first precious metal in Belek (Türkiye).
With 289.74 points, Hentschel and Sanchez prevailed just ahead of Chiara Pellacani and Matteo Santoro from Italy (289.71). The British Desharne Bent-Asheil and Ben Cutmore took third place with 271.80 points.
After winning the title, Hentschel said: “I heard our ratings and knew that there was a medal, but I had no idea that it was actually enough for gold. We were so happy.” Sanchez emphasized that he couldn’t “believe it properly” and explained: “It was very, very scarce, but that’s how sport was also the luck on our side.”
Hentschel, on the other hand, remained in the individual competition without precious metal. On Friday afternoon, the 23-year-old took fifth place in the final of the 1-meter board. Chiara Pellacani secured the title. Hentschel lacked 13.15 points in third place.
Already on Thursday, Tokyo’s Olympic third together with Pauline Pfeif (Berlin), Ole Rösler (Rostock) and Moritz Wesemann (Halle) had brought silver in mixed.
The European Championships in Belek take place in the open air – a possible dress rehearsal for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. There should also be jumped outdoors. The European Championship runs until May 28th. The highlight of the season is the World Championships in Singapore in July.