Formula Kite: Mouse secures a place in the Nations Cup for DSV Olympic sailors

At the European Championships for Olympic kiteboarders, Jannis Maus secured Germany's seventh place on the nation list for the 2024 Olympic Games. The 27-year-old from Oldenburg from the Cuxkiters club narrowly missed out on a medal in fourth place in the British waters off Portsmouth. However, he achieved the more important goal with his stage success on course for Marseille.

It was nice to be able to show at this European Championships that I belong somewhere other than the unfortunate 18th place at the World Championships in The Hague" (Jannis Maus)

"If someone had asked me beforehand whether I would rather take the European Championship medal or the Olympic starting place for us kiters, I would have taken the starting place. It's just mega!" said the delighted top kiter from the German Sailing Team, who showed outstanding speed and nerves of steel right through to the final. Italian Ricardo Pianosi won ahead of Maxime Nocher (France) and Lorenzo Boschetti (Italy).

After his disappointing 18th place at the World Championships in The Hague in August and missing out on an Olympic national ticket for the DSV kiters, Jannis Maus had worked very hard on his equipment and his starts. Now, in the battle for just one national starting place at this European Championship, he surprisingly prevailed against the British favourite Connor Bainbridge in his home territory. "That was a tough one," said a relieved Jannis Maus.

Before the World Championships in Great Britain, I would never have thought that I could beat Connor Bainbridge on his home turf" (Jannis Maus)

Jannis Maus continued: "Connor normally rides consistently and fast, always finishing in the top three. It was a surprise that he didn't get the national ticket for the Brits in The Hague. I wouldn't have thought before the European Championships that I could beat him here."

Germany's skiff sailors and surfers are still missing a place on the national starting grid

The DSV's best sailors have now secured 70 per cent of the ten Olympic nations' starting places in sailing. Only the iQFoil surfers and the skiff sailors in the 49er and 49er FX still have to fight, but have further chances in the European title series and the Last Chance Regatta next year. Important to know: Securing a place on the national starting list is not the same as the individual Olympic qualification of an athlete or crew, which is decided in Germany in various elimination series.

Jannis Maus' team-mate and Olympic competitor Flo Gruber from the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein came 15th at the European Championships, while Gruber's team-mate Leonie Meyer came ninth in the women's kiteboarding. The likeable mother and doctor had already secured a place for Germany's female kiters at the World Championships in The Hague in a huge feat of strength in a turbulent series.

Click here for the European Championship results of the Olympic Formula kiters off Portsmouth.

Kite action from the European Championships with DSV top starter Jannis Maus - a repeat of the medal finals in Portsmouth: