Para-Weitter Markus Rehm competes with trainer Steffi Nerius at the World Cup in New Delhi. A special partnership ends after 16 years – and at the same time the view of medals and records remains.
For Markus Rehm, the Para Athletics World Cup in New Delhi is more than just a sporting highlight-it is also a farewell. After 16 years together, the long jumper in the Indian capital will face his competitors for the last time with his trainer Steffi Nerius. “Of course you think about how it goes on afterwards. But we both look forward to this last joint competition“, says Rehm.
One Success story over 16 years
The fact that the success duo separates after such a long time is mainly due to new professional tasks from Nerius. “She was always very, very honest with me,” says Rehm. As head of the sports boarding school in Leverkusen, she will need more time to build the full -time boarding school in the future. “The Steffi is a hundred percent and wants to fulfill all tasks at most well.”
Since 2008, the two have been an unequal but highly successful duo. Nerius, world champion in the 2009 javelin throw, brought her knowledge and experience, Rehm developed under her leadership into a dominant para-long-long jumper of his time. Multiple world champions, Paralympics winner, world record holder: Hardly any title is missing in his vita. “We have been working together for over 16 years and are a great team, and friendship has also been created. That can be emotional“, he says.
It is hardly surprising that the last unit was difficult to leave the training ground. “It was crazy. On Wednesday we had the last long jump training training“, says Rehm.”I can hardly imagine a day -to -day training session without Steffi, but I am sure that we stay in close exchange.“Words that show how much the 53-year-old has become a constant for him.
Between farewell and new challenges
At the World Cup in Neu -Delhi there is another circle for Rehm: in 2009 he played his first major international competition in Bangalore – now, 16 years later, he returns to India. “That has something nostalgic. I’m really looking forward to it and I’m excited“, he says. A place that marks the beginning and farewell at the same time.
However, the conditions in the stadium become a real challenge. At temperatures of 35 degrees and more, athletes and supervisors quickly reach their limits. Rehm made sure: late journey, sleep in German rhythm, familiar food. “Of course, it would be nice to jump far, but it won’t be easy with the conditions. The goal is clear: a medal, preferably the title defense.“
The season was solid in terms of sport, but not without obstacles. Constant jumps over the eight-meter brand confirmed its class, but the perfect rhythm did not always appear. And then there was unrest from the outside. Shortly before the World Cup, the World Association announced a new interpretation to the sol thickness of shoes. Suddenly the requirements should also apply to prostheses.
Look ahead: record dreams and fresh start
For Rehm this was a shock: “That came completely surprising. I had to convert my prosthesis shortly before the World Cup.“Because the rule interpretation for these title fights was suspended again after protests, he had to”Restoring my prosthesis again in the last two training sessions. That is of course bitter, so shortly before a climax. ”
Despite the irritation, Rehm looks ahead. With 8.72 meters, he holds the world record in para -longing – and thinks about an attack on his own record. “There were many indications that something was still going on. I have made the best performances, especially from short attempts. If you could transfer it to a full start, it could be exciting.”
Rehm will work on the project in the coming year, to optimize the conditions in order to set the jump of his life: height, cheap wind, perfect coordination of the shoe and prosthesis. It is no coincidence that he is reminiscent of Bob’s legendary world record from 1968 in Mexico City: “Height and wind are the two most important factors – in addition to the start -up speed. I still see potential.“
“There is also a life after sport”
The fact that he is still making progress in speed at the age of 37 surprises him. But he knows how fine the set screws are in top sport: “It may not be about becoming significantly faster, but with perfect coordination, even with the shoes, there is still a lot to get out. To implement the speed remains the decisive factor. I think something else works.“
After the World Cup, Rehm sets up a new chapter: moving to a training group to Amsterdam. This means a turning point that is difficult to imagine without Nerius, but also promises new impulses.
He works in a project -related manner, including for his prosthesis manufacturer in Iceland. “Sport gave me a lot, but I know: There is also a life after sport.“However, the full attention of the start in New Delhi and the last joint competition with Steffi Nerius applies.