Olympia: DOSB gives green light - Olympic sailors in maximum team strength to Marseille

"Many stones have fallen from our hearts. Pretty much all of them. The feeling is great and can hardly be put into words," said Andreas Spranger shortly after the positive decision for his crew was announced. Both the 49er sailors Jakob Meggendorfer/Andreas Spranger (Bayerischer Yacht-Club) and the Ilca-6 helmswoman Julia Büsselberg (Verein Seglerhaus am Wannsee) had secured a place for Germany in their sailing discipline, but had not been able to overcome all the hurdles for individual Olympic qualification.

Green light for DSV applications

The DSV subsequently submitted two individual applications for subsequent nominations for the two crews. DSV Sports Director Nadine Stegenwalner had announced early on that the team should ideally compete in all ten Olympic disciplines in order to maximise their chances. Accordingly, the federation fought for additional nominations. The DOSB has now given the green light for both applications.

With the nominated trio, the sailing team for Team D is now complete. "We are delighted that our efforts have paid off and that the DOSB has followed our recommendation, as Julia, Jakob and Andreas have also clearly earned their Olympic ticket," says DSV President Mona Küppers. "The DSV congratulates the entire team from the bottom of its heart. We are really proud that we will be represented in all disciplines."

That's a super cool sign from the DOSB." Philipp Buhl

Active athlete spokesperson Philipp Buhl also welcomed the vote in favour of sailors, saying: "It's a super cool sign from the DOSB that they've done this. I've known sailing for a long time and really well. I know how dependent a result can be on form and, above all, the sailing conditions in a particular week and in a particular area. That is so important to understand. Both crews that have been nominated have already shown that they can deliver top performances. It's very good to have them in the team now."

Seven women and seven men on course for the Olympics

In addition to the German team, only the French, who are authorised as Olympic hosts in all disciplines, and the British Olympic record medallists in all ten sailing competitions are expected to start the Olympic regatta.

Seven men and seven women will compete in the ten Olympic sailing disciplines with black, red and gold colours in their sails and kites on the Olympic sailing stage off Marseille:

• Marla Bergmann and Hanna Wille49er FX (Mühlenberger Segel-Club)
• Jakob Meggendorfer and Andreas Spranger, 49er (Bavarian Yacht Club)
• Sebastian KördeliQFOiL (North German Regatta Association)
• Theresa SteinleiniQFOiL (North German Regatta Association)
• Philipp BuhlIlca 7 (North German Regatta Club and Alpsee-Immenstadt Sailing Club)
• Julia Büsselberg, Ilca 6 (Association Seglerhaus am Wannsee)
• Simon Diesch and Anna Markfort470s (Württembergischer Yacht-Club, Seglerhaus am Wannsee and Joersfelder Segel-Club)
• Paul Kohlhoff and Alica StuhlemmerNacra 17 (Kiel Yacht Club)
• Leonie Meyer, Formula Kite (North German Regatta Club)
• Jannis Mouse, Formula Kite (Cuxkiters)

The Olympic regatta takes place in the bay of Marseille. There, 330 male and female sailors will gather for the summit of the XXXIII Olympic Games. The races start on 28 July and finish on 8 August. The newly Olympic iQFoil windsurfers (men & women) and the skiff sailors (49er & 49erFX) will be the first to start the Olympic series, while the Formula kiters (men & women), also newly Olympic, will be the last.

Ilca 7 helmsman Philipp Buhl (34) and Nacra 17 helmsman Paul Kohlhoff are two experienced athletes heading for their third Olympic Games. Philipp Buhl was the first and so far only German Ilca 7 sailor to win World Championship gold in 2020, while Paul Kohlhoff won Olympic bronze in the Nacra 17 three years ago in Enoshima with Alica Stuhlemmer. All three also want to fight for a medal in Marseille.

Good team spirit for the Olympics

With an average age of 27.5 years, Philipp Buhl is the oldest and most experienced athlete in the sailing squad for Paris 2024 at 34 years old. The youngest starter is Theresa "Resi" Steinlein at 22 years old. The Olympians from the German Sailing Team prepared for the Games together at several team events in Marseille. "The camps were mega cool. We have a super good Olympic spirit in the team," says formula kiter Jannis Maus. He and the other ten new Olympians in the German sailing team particularly enjoyed the dialogue with the experienced players. "We did Q&A sessions and got valuable tips," says Jannis Maus.

A team of around 16 to 18 coaches led by DSV Sports Director Nadine Stegenwalner will accompany, coach, advise and inspire the German team in Marseille. The team has already been training intensively there for more than two years and, thanks to good preparatory work by the DSV team, has a well-equipped training base at the Yacht Club de Pointe Rouge not far from the Olympic harbour. Most of the Olympic sailors will be travelling to Marseille in the third week of July after further training and final short stays at home.

Click here for the schedule for all Olympic sports.

Because it was so beautiful - the Olympic medal race of the Nacra 17 mixed catamaran sailors from Enoshima to savour. Back then, Paul Kohlhoff and Alica Stuhlemmer won bronze. They are the only Olympic medallists who are back in action off Marseille: