When Paul Kohlhoff and Carolina Werner sailed into the public spotlight for the first time two years ago at Kieler Woche, they were almost the only ones who believed in their Olympic chances for 2016. Although the vast majority of experts had recognised the talent of the mixed crew from the Kiel Yacht Club, the then still very young duo were more likely to be on the list for participation in the 2020 Olympic Games. Now, despite a few setbacks, they have made it through the national qualifiers and are part of the Olympic premiere of the Nacra 17 catamarans. 20 teams from just as many nations are competing for the medals. Paul Kohlhoff, 21, and Carolina Werner, 22, are the youngest. They have little to lose and everything to gain.
Paul Kohlhoff and Carolina Werner introduce themselves and their expectations and dreams for the Olympic regatta in Rio de Janeiro.
On their way to the top of the world in the new Olympic mixed discipline, the Kiel team had and still has a lot of significant support in addition to their own skills and enormous willpower. Dedicated parents, the local Kiel Yacht Club, strong coaches like Mark Bulkely, partners and supporters in the background, mentor and advisor Marc Pickel, the Audi Sailing Team Germany and the German Sailing Association have spurred on the rise of the "Wonder Kids" to become serious Olympians. Paul Kohlhoff therefore says: "We hope that we can return some of the trust that has been placed in us with good performances at the Olympic Games."
The smart helmsman Kohlhoff (career goal: professional sailor) and his dynamic foresailor Werner have been in the same boat for six years and their first strokes and regattas together in the 29er, complementing each other perfectly. They will be up against strong competition before Rio. The top favourites are the multiple world champions Billy Besson and Marie Riou from France. Kohlhoff/Werner currently occupy 13th place in the world rankings. The fact that the team from Kiel is one of the few teams to beat Besson/Riou at the World Cup off Weymouth in June under the pressure of elimination is a sign of what this German team is capable of. Carolina Werner once summarised the essence of Nacra 17 sailing as follows: "It's all about good and fast handling. And about driving the car fast and straight ahead."
This video is already a year old, but still interesting. Kohlhoff and Werner present the new Olympic Nacra 17 and talk about their plans for the future. Their big dream of taking part in the Olympics has now come true. But their hopes for the Olympic Games in Hamburg and Kiel have not.
Kohlhoff/Werner made their first notable international mark in 2015 with fifth place at the World Championships. The Danish press officer then labelled the Germans the "German Wonder Kids". And they went on to impress once again with fourth place and a narrowly missed medal at the Olympic test regatta in Rio. They were subsequently voted "Germany's rising stars of 2015" at the STG Awards.
From 10 August, Paul Kohlhoff and Carolina Werner want to challenge the big names in Olympic catamaran racing. The DSV head coach says of the German Nacra 17 crew: "Paul and Caro have probably completed the steepest learning curve in the last two years. They are still young, but very talented and ambitious. They put in strong performances in 2015, but also suffered a few setbacks at the start of the year. Looking ahead to Rio, they have an outside chance in the battle for the medals."
Paul Kohlhoff and Caro Werner moved into the Olympic Village on Monday. Kohlhoff reported: "Our first impressions are great, it's totally exciting and thrilling. The atmosphere in the village is amazing. Now we're trying to concentrate on ourselves. The work finally starts tomorrow." "Work" is the key word for amateur footballer Kohlhoff: "I believe less in talent than in hard work that leads to success."
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
