U21 World Championship in Ilca 7: Ole Schweckendiek is world champion - Buhl congratulates

"I can't really realise it yet," says high-flyer Ole Schweckendiek, having already become European Champion and International German Champion this year. He started his first major Ilca 7 regatta without any great expectations. The predominantly light winds favoured the lightweight. The fact that Ole Schweckendiek turned it into a double triumph was therefore not a matter of course. Looking at Ole Schweckendiek's irresistible string of successes this year brings to mind Germany's first and only world champion Philipp Buhl. The Olympic silver medallist from Japan, who wants to fight for another Olympic medal off Marseille in 2024, also won U21 and U19 gold as a 17-year-old in 2007. Today, the helmsman from the Alpsee-Immenstadt sailing club is one of Germany's most successful and best-known sailors. Philipp Buhl is not only an idol for Schweckendiek. "Philipp is extremely likeable and shows that even as a successful sailor you can still enjoy sailing."

Philipp Buhl: "That's a fantastic result!"

Ole Schweckendiek is becoming increasingly successful in the wake of his role model Philipp Buhl, who also competes for the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein. Grandmaster Buhl has long had his eye on the youngster and was one of the first to congratulate him after Schweckendiek's World Championship coup. Buhl wrote to him: "That's a great result! Congratulations and welcome to the Laser Standard!" And Schweckendiek was not the only successful Ilca-7 sailor at the World Championships: Philipp Buhl's club mate Julian Hoffmann also sailed on the wave of success off Vilamoura and won World Championship bronze. "Standing on the podium as a pair is of course even more fun," said a delighted Ole Schweckendiek.

The newly crowned young world champion is currently on his way home. He will arrive there at night. On Tuesday morning, Ole Schweckendiek's school, which he has only been able to attend for two days this year, is calling. That's why the good pupil will be focussing on it again during the winter half-term. "I want to do well in my A-levels next year," says Schweckendiek with determination.

He wants to decide step by step whether the 2028 Olympic Games or 2032 will be his big goal. His first priority is winter training and the necessary weight gain. Schweckendiek currently weighs around 75 kilograms. To be able to compete successfully in the senior Olympic camp, he needs to gain around ten kilograms. Ole Schweckendiek wants to achieve this with muscle building and a sensible nutrition plan. The good overall result at the U21 World Championships in Vilamoura was completed by 18-year-old Pia Conradi from the Duisburg Yacht Club in seventh place in the Ilca 6 for the strong DSV youngsters.