German National Rowing Team Successful at the World Cup in Varese

14 April 2024

started the Olympic season. Except for the coxless four, all Olympic boat classes were represented. After intensive preparation, including a training camp at Lago Azul, which I also attended, and the final trials in Ratzeburg and Hamburg, the races in Varese were to provide insight into how the newly formed boats stand in the international comparison and what adjustments still need to be made.

Excellent Results and Individual Performances

Oliver Zeidler dominated the men’s single sculls and secured first place. Alexandra Föster also showed a strong performance, achieving an impressive second place in the women’s single sculls. The women’s double sculls with Frauke Hundeling and Sarah Wibberenz won the bronze medal.

Strong Performances in the B-Finals

Julius Christ and Sönke Kruse took second place behind Ireland in the B-final of the men’s pair. In the lightweight women’s double sculls, the Reichardt twins, Johanna and Marion, fought for second place despite a difficult start and showed an impressive performance.

Mixed Results in the A-Finals

In the women’s pair, Lena Sarassa and Hannah Reif finished in sixth place. The women’s double sculls with Frauke Hundeling and Sarah Wibberenz secured the bronze medal in a photo finish, demonstrating their determination and strength. A success for the entire German National Rowing Team in Varese.

In the men’s double sculls, Jonas Gelsen and Marc Weber narrowly missed the podium, finishing in fourth place.

In the lightweight men’s double sculls, Jonathan Rommelmann and Paul Leerkamp finished in sixth place, while the second German boat came in fifth.

Successes and Challenges in the Big Boats

The women’s quadruple sculls won the bronze medal despite a last-minute team change.

The men’s quadruple sculls finished sixth in the A-final but could not repeat their performance from the previous day. Julius Rommelmann stepped in for the ill Moritz Wolff.

The German women’s eight finished in a solid fourth place.

The men’s eight secured the bronze medal behind the strong boats from Great Britain and the Netherlands. Laurits Follert and Hannes Ocik returned to the boat and significantly contributed to the performance.

Conclusion

The German National Rowing Team was very successful in Varese. The races were impressive and make us confident for the coming season. The final participations and medals show that the team is on the right track. Now it is essential to incorporate the insights gained into the preparation for the qualification regatta in Lucerne.

All other results can be viewed in detail on World Rowing .