Olympic sailing: "Rio will be the biggest challenge"

They have only been in the same boat since October 2014 and yet they have qualified for their Olympic premiere: Annika Bochmann (Falkensee) and Marlene Steinherr (Berlin) are the German 470 women's team for the Rio regatta. They landed in Brazil's Olympic metropolis yesterday. Today they are already heading to the harbour to prepare their boat and equipment. In their blog, the women from the Seglerhaus am Wannsee association wrote: "The time has finally come. Our Olympic adventure begins!"

With the help of coach Lucas Zellmer, the duo has persistently worked its way up to the top of the world rankings. At the 2015 European Championships, the strategically strong Annika Bochmann and her experienced foresailor Steinherr achieved a strong fourth place. The 25-year-old helmswoman brings eight years of experience in the 470 to Brazil. Marlene Steinherr, a sports scientist and psychologist, had taken a break from competition after an Olympic campaign four years ago before taking off again with Bochmann.

For the two German 470 sailors, their participation in the Olympics has fulfilled a lifelong dream. Now they want to show what they can do before Rio. Strategic cleverness and a preference for different conditions are among the strengths of the crew from the Seglerhaus am Wannsee club.

Both women are family people and competitive athletes by conviction. Ulrike Schümann, Vice President of the VSaW and fourth in the 2008 Olympics, says: "Annika and Marlene have great potential as a team, always look ahead, are hard-working and ambitious." Club mate Schümann knows: "With nine medals, Annika was one of the most successful junior sailors in Germany. She is talented and clever and has brought an experienced personality on board with Marlene."

The Berlin team may not be among the top favourites, but they have a lot to play for. DSV head coach David Howlett also believes this. The former successful coach of four-time Olympic champion Sir Ben Ainslie says: "When I watched Annika and Marlene intensively at a regatta at the beginning of the year, one thing was immediately clear to me: they really have a lot going for them. I like the way Lucas Zellmer has worked with them recently. The Bochmann/Steinherr team is now one of the best ten 470 women's teams in the world, and that's why there's a chance of a positive surprise at the Olympics."

Coach Lucas Zellmer, himself an Olympic starter, said: "People will quickly get shaky on the turf in Rio. There will be surprises. You can also surprise yourself and surpass yourself." So it's no surprise that 25-year-old Annika Bochmann said: "We'll be there when the others falter." The two German 470 sailors like the area in Guanabara Bay." They want to take on its challenges as "good all-rounders" and "not reinvent the wheel".

The 470 sailors are aware of the demands of the different courses in the Olympic area. Annika explains: "Rio is an area in itself. We will probably sail a different course every day. That's the biggest challenge. Inside and outside there are differences like day and night. There is local weather, which is very special. It's a challenge to recognise the very, very different systems. The advantage is that these conditions open up the race in the women's fleet." The team's message is clear: "We want to show what we're made of in Rio and fight to the death."