World Cup in the Czech Republic
Alone in the limelight: Rowers hope for Zeidler
Rower Oliver Zeidler is hoping for a World Championship medal. photo
© Černý Vít/CTK/dpa
The group of German finalists at the World Rowing Championships is smaller than ever. Will Oliver Zeidler prevent DRV from winning a medal for the first time?
The eight is already out of the race, the men’s quadruple sculls not even at the start – at the Rowing World Championships in the Czech Republic, Oliver Zeidler is the only remaining German hope for a medal.
In the one-on-one final on Sunday, the 2019 world champion can prevent the DRV from going empty-handed in the battle for precious metal in the 14 Olympic boat classes for the first time since the title fights were introduced in 1962. Zeidler is in good spirits that he will be spared a disappointment like six weeks ago at the home European Championships in Munich with fourth place: “I’ve made a few steps forward since Munich,” he told the German Press Agency.
Women’s double sculls in the final
In addition to the singles and the women’s double sculls, which, as third place in the semifinals, is not considered a candidate for a podium place, the DRV fleet is not represented by any other boat in the 14 finals. Zeidler wants to prevent a similar course of the race as at the European Championships on his home track in Oberschleißheim, when after a long lead the competition overtook him in the last 400 meters. A lot will therefore depend on his staying power in the final sprint. “The last few meters are always a bit of a grab bag for me,” Zeidler confessed.
The European champion Melvin Twellaar (Netherlands) is the favorite in the skiff showdown, who had clearly relegated his German opponent to second place in the quarter-finals on Wednesday by almost six seconds. “Melvin is unbeaten here so far. But just like in 2019, when I became world champion, all six finalists can win the title,” said Zeider. The 26-year-old from Dachau is expecting a hard-fought final: “Everyone will be in the boat with a knife in their mouth.”
Zeidler trains independently
Unlike the athletes from the rest of the DRV fleet, Zeidler works independently on his career. He is not trained at a DRV base, but by his father Heino Zeidler at home on the 1972 Olympic course in Oberschleißheim. “I’m allowed to do it completely independently. I really appreciate that,” commented the Olympic seventh.
Nevertheless, even before the European Championships in Munich, Zeidler reinforced the controversial debate within the association about necessary reforms with his harsh criticism of the DRV. He described the results of the season as a “debacle” and spoke of a downward spiral that had lasted for years. “It was intended that there would be a real bang,” commented the 2.03-meter-tall model athlete, “as a single-seater you are noticed more in public than other rowers.”
His advance caused a great deal of media resonance and acted as a wake-up call for the top management. As a reaction to the bad EM results and the many negative headlines, the association management initiated the first measures. However, the original plan of tackling the problems with an internal expert council was rejected after renewed criticism from athletes’ circles. Now an external agency is supposed to help the DRV regain its former clout. Zeidler does not want to comment on this decision by the association bosses – not yet: “I am now concentrating on my race on Sunday.”