Poor performance, tense climate – the anticipation in the German Rowing Association for the World Cup is limited.
Five weeks after the European Championships in Munich with only one bronze medal in the 14 Olympic boat classes, another sporting lull threatens at the season highlight from September 18th to 25th in Racice (Czech Republic). Tensions between athletes and the leadership of the association have recently caused further negative headlines. Large jumps in performance are hardly to be expected in this situation. Brigitte Bielig dampened expectations. “We have to bake small rolls. We are not yet as competitive internationally as we would like,” said the national coach of the German Press Agency.
The times when the largest rowing association in the world reliably ensured international success are over. Restructuring is unavoidable in order to reestablish contact with the world elite. For the following pre-Olympic season, training operations will be centralized at three management bases. The training camps in Zakopane (Poland) and Völkermarkt (Austria) were therefore not only used to prepare for the World Championships, but also to talk to the athletes and promote these plans. This should also contribute to improving the internal climate.
Bielig is asking for patience with the younger squad
It is quite possible that the calls for changes after the World Cup will become even louder. After all, the number of medal aspirants is as manageable as rarely. Only the two ones with Oliver Zeidler (Munich) and Alexandra Föster (Menden) and the eighth have a chance of a podium finish. Bielig asked for patience with the greatly reduced squad: “It’s not going to be the year in which we’ll show off.”
Even the long-standing guarantors of success from the eights, who now also have to do without the two professionally disabled top performers Laurits Follert and Olaf Roggensack after the already big upheaval at the start of the season, are no longer among the narrow favorites after fourth place in Munich. However, the good performances in the training camp give coach Uwe Bender courage: “We want to fight for the podium. We always have big goals. That is of course also due to the history of the Germany eight.”
To make matters worse, the corona virus also reduces the effectiveness of the DRV fleet. After various positive tests, three teams had to do without a start: the men’s fours, the women’s twos without a coxswain and the women’s eights. “We’re starting with a massively depleted team. Unfortunately, for us it will be a World Cup for those who are left,” Bielig complained and hopes that there will be no further infections. “We can’t have that much bad luck.”