Former water jump world champion and Olympic flag bearer Patrick Hausding announces his retirement from competitive sports on Wednesday, according to “SID” information.
Before the German championships in Hausding’s native city of Berlin, the Bild newspaper also reported on Tuesday about the 33-year-old’s decision to end his career.
During the course of his career, Hausding advanced to become the most successful water jumper in the German Swimming Association (DSV). The four-time Olympic participant won silver in synchronized diving from the tower at the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing, bronze from the three-meter board in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and last year in Tokyo again bronze in synchronized diving from the three-meter board. “Everything comes to an end,” Hausdings had indicated his farewell immediately after the competition in Japan.
In addition to his World Championship title in Barcelona in 2013 in synchronized diving from the tower with his partner Sascha Klein, Hausding’s total of 15 successes at European Championships is a record. In World Championship competitions, the sports soldier also achieved two second places and one third place.
In recognition of his years of success and impeccable demeanor, Hausding was chosen to be the flag bearer ahead of last year’s Olympics. Together with beach volleyball Olympic champion Laura Ludwig, the veteran led the team of the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) into the stadium at the opening ceremony in Tokyo.
Nothing is known about Hausding’s future plans. The record jumper is currently completing a teaching degree in English and sports in Berlin. However, it is also conceivable that the DSV wants to retain its most successful water jumper for the coming years and that Hausding could offer a position on the coaching staff.