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Olympic sailingA dynamic dozen for the Pre-Olympics

Tatjana Pokorny

 · 30.05.2019

Olympic sailing: A dynamic dozen for the Pre-OlympicsPhoto: Nikos Alevronitis/alem.gr
470 European Championship 2018
The DSV has nominated its team for the pre-Olympic test regatta: six men and six women will be hunting for medals in Enoshima on a trial basis

It has been a long time since there has been such a mixed German team for the Olympics: Officially, there are eight clubs behind the seven crews that will be hunting for medals this summer from 17 to 22 August in the former and future Japanese Olympic area of Enoshima. In fact, there are even more clubs, as quite a few athletes are members of more than one club.

Sailing on course for Enoshima: Laser helmsman Philipp BuhlPhoto: Lars Wehrmann / German Sailing Team Sailing on course for Enoshima: Laser helmsman Philipp Buhl

A brief overview of the sailing athletes nominated for the Pre-Olympics:

  • LASER: Philipp Buhl (Alpsee-Immenstadt Sailing Club)
  • LASER RADIAL: Svenja Weger (Potsdamer Yacht-Club)
  • 470 WOMEN: Nadine Böhm/Ann-Christin Goliaß (German Touring Yacht Club)
  • 470 MEN:Simon Diesch/Philipp Autenrieth (Württembergischer Yacht-Club/Bayerischer YC)
  • 49ER: Justus Schmidt/Max Boehme (Kieler Yacht-Club)
  • 49erFX: Vicky Jurczok/Anika Lorenz (Verein Seglerhaus am Wannsee)
  • Nacra 17: Paul Kohlhoff/Alica Stuhlemmer (Kieler Yacht-Club)
Strong together for Enoshima: Paul Kohlhoff and Alica Stuhlemmer performing a fun acrobatic routine in training before MiamiPhoto: Felix Diemer Strong together for Enoshima: Paul Kohlhoff and Alica Stuhlemmer performing a fun acrobatic routine in training before Miami Full throttle to Enoshima: Justus Schmidt and Max Boehme in the 49erPhoto: Lars Wehrmann/German Sailing Team Full throttle to Enoshima: Justus Schmidt and Max Boehme in the 49er Laser Radial helmswoman Svenja Weger is nominated for the pre-Olympic test regattaPhoto: Jesus Renedo / Sailing Energy Laser Radial helmswoman Svenja Weger is nominated for the pre-Olympic test regatta

For the athletes, the test regatta offers a good opportunity to get to know the diverse area and familiarise themselves with its conditions. "Of course that's an advantage," says Philipp Buhl, who has just got back on the road to success after a bumpy start to the season with bronze at the European Championships. The national sailing team will be accompanied by the discipline coaches and other support staff at the Pre-Olympics.

Simon Diesch and Philipp Autenrieth in the 470 on course for the Pre-OlympicsPhoto: Lars Wehrmann/DSV Simon Diesch and Philipp Autenrieth in the 470 on course for the Pre-Olympics

However, the nomination for the Pre-Olympics does not include a right to compete in next year's Olympics. The corresponding international and national qualification for the 2020 Olympics is yet to begin, will take place in several stages and will extend into the early summer of next year. Only then will it be decided who will actually be allowed to compete for Olympic medals in Willy Kuhweide's former gold medal area in 2020. The basic prerequisite for this is securing the corresponding national places, which has so far only been achieved in the Laser, Laser Radial and 49er disciplines. The DSV athletes want to secure further places at the upcoming World Championships. For some candidates it is only a matter of time, others have to tremble and fight because the Olympic fields are sometimes very small, but the rush is great.

If the national starting place (only one per country and discipline) is successful, the German candidates must also fulfil the criteria of the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) and also prevail against possible national competitors in a predetermined elimination series.

The exact qualification paths can be here read more.

They have big plans for this year: Victoria Jurczok and Anika Lorenz want to finally be among the world's best again after a short dry spell, secure a place in the 49erFX for Germany at the World Championships and gain valuable experience at the Olympic test regatta this summerPhoto: Lars Wehrmann/DSV They have big plans for this year: Victoria Jurczok and Anika Lorenz want to finally be among the world's best again after a short dry spell, secure a place in the 49erFX for Germany at the World Championships and gain valuable experience at the Olympic test regatta this summer
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Tatjana Pokorny

Tatjana Pokorny

Sports reporter

Tatjana “tati” Pokorny is the author of nine books. As a reporter for Europe's leading sailing magazine YACHT, she also works as a correspondent for the German Press Agency (DPA), the Hamburger Abendblatt and other national and international media. In summer 2024, Tatjana will be reporting from Marseille on her ninth consecutive Olympic Games. Other core topics have been the America's Cup since 1992, the Ocean Race since 1993, the Vendée Globe and other national and international regattas and their protagonists. Favorite discipline: Portraits of and interviews with sailing personalities. When she started out in sports journalism, she was still intensively involved with basketball and other sports, but sailing quickly became her main focus. The reason? The declared optimist says: “There is no other sport like it, no other sport with such interesting and intelligent personalities, no other sport so diverse, no other sport so full of energy, strength and ideas. Sailing is like a constantly refreshing declaration of love for life."

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