From a German perspective, the World Rowing Championships have so far been disappointing. Will Oliver Zeidler prevent DRV from winning a medal for the first time? Or will Pia Greit and Frauke Hundeling create a surprise?
The eight is already out of the race, the men’s quad sculls aren’t even starting – at the Rowing World Championships in the Czech Republic, Oliver Zeidler and Pia Greit and Frauke Hundeling in the two are the only remaining German hopes for a medal.
The focus is on Zeidler: In the one-on-one final on Sunday, the 2019 world champion can prevent the DRV from going empty-handed in the fight for precious metal in the 14 Olympic boat classes for the first time since the title fights were introduced in 1962.
Zeidler is in good spirits that he will be spared a disappointment like he did six weeks ago at the home European Championships in Munich with fourth place: “I’ve made a few steps forward since Munich”he told the German Press Agency.
Women’s double sculls in the final
In addition to the one and the women’s double sculls around Pia Greit and Frauke Hundeling, who came third in the semi-finals but is not considered a candidate for a podium place, the DRV fleet is not represented by any other boat in the 14 finals. Zeidler wants to prevent a similar course of the race as at the European Championships on his home track in Oberschleißheim, when after a long lead the competition overtook him in the last 400 meters. A lot will therefore depend on his staying power in the final sprint. “The last few meters are always a bit of a grab bag for me”known Zeidler.
The European champion Melvin Twellaar (Netherlands) is the favorite in the skiff showdown, who had clearly relegated his German opponent to second place in the quarter-finals on Wednesday by almost six seconds. “Melvin is unbeaten here so far. But just like in 2019 when I became world champion, all six finalists can win the title”said Zeider. The 26-year-old from Dachau expects a hard-fought final: “Everyone will be in the boat with a knife in their mouth.”
Zeidler trains independently
Unlike the athletes from the rest of the DRV fleet, Zeidler works independently on his career. He is not trained at a DRV base, but by his father Heino Zeidler at home on the 1972 Olympic course in Oberschleißheim. “I’m allowed to do it completely independently. I really appreciate that”commented the Olympic seventh.
Nevertheless, even before the European Championships in Munich, Zeidler reinforced the controversial debate within the association about necessary reforms with his harsh criticism of the DRV. He described the results of the season as a “debacle” and spoke of a downward spiral that had lasted for years. “It was meant to make a real bang,” commented the 2.03 meter tall model athlete, “As a single-seater you are perceived more in public than other rowers.”
His advance caused a great deal of media resonance and acted as a wake-up call for the top management. As a reaction to the bad EM results and the many negative headlines, the association management initiated the first measures. However, the original plan to tackle the problems with an internal expert council was rejected after renewed criticism from athletes’ circles. Now an external agency is supposed to help the DRV regain its former clout. Zeidler does not want to comment on this decision by the association bosses – not yet: “For now I’m concentrating on my race on Sunday.”