Swimming World Championship
“New front woman”: Elendt inspires in her own way
Swept into the limelight in Budapest: Anna Elendt. Photo: Petr David Josek/AP/dpa
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German swimming has another successful short-distance athlete. Anna Elendt inspires at the World Cup with her sporting achievements, but also with her appearances outside the pool.
The big relief didn’t come until the next morning. “When I woke up this morning, I thought: Now comes what’s really fun. Of course it was fun before, but there was a lot more pressure. It’s really nice to be able to swim freely now,” said Anna Elendt.
Just 15 hours after her magnificent race to silver in the 100m breaststroke at the Swimming World Championships in Budapest, the Frankfurter was again challenged in the 4x100m medley mixed relay, with which she made it into the final.
Suddenly the 20-year-old is in the limelight. By her nature, Anna Elendt is one who can do German swimming good. Sports director Christian Hansmann sees it that way too. “We’re glad that we now have a new front woman in her on the short and medium-haul routes, who can break into the phalanx of previous medal winners,” said Hansmann, emphasizing: “With her appearance, she’s a popular figure. We are glad that we have her with us because she also brings a good mood to the team.”
It is refreshing how Anna Elendt meets her fellow human beings. Self-confident, a little flippant, cheerful – but never pushy or careless. A young woman who combines the seriousness of life with the beautiful. One who knows what she wants without taking herself and her sport too seriously. The best example of this: after her 100-meter run, she was asked if she had ever heard of the Chinese woman who was successful there. Answer: “No, but I’m not really familiar with the swimming world.”
American lifestyle internalized
Elendt quickly internalized the American lifestyle and the training methods used there. She has been studying at the University of Texas for two years and trains in the training group of around 25 swimmers led by Carol Capitani, who is recognized by many experts. This raised the German to a new level and encouraged her to train even harder. And that works. Despite some ups and downs this year, she was there at the crucial competitions. At the qualifying races in San Antonio, she drew attention to herself with German records, and now she has won silver at the World Championships.
An end to the development is not in sight. On the contrary. Her final time in Budapest was four tenths of a second faster than her personal best. If she had even come close to the mark, Anna Elendt would already be world champion.
She is now aware that she has this potential. Therefore, the silver celebration was quite modest. “I still have plans for this World Cup, the 50 and 200 meters breaststroke are still to come,” said Elendt and said that she met her parents late Monday evening and ate at the hotel. Family time yes, lavish party no.
In general, despite the distance between Frankfurt and Texas, Elendt has remained a family man. Above all, her mother Melanie is an important reference person, whom Elendt also forgives for an accident after a move. Her mother had placed a mirror on a chest of drawers in Elendt’s Frankfurt apartment and had not fixed it. The mirror fell in Elendt’s face shortly before the World Cup, a cut next to his eye still hurts. Even before she had silver hanging around her neck, Elendt was able to laugh about it.