2021 GERMAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Thursday, June 3rd – Sunday, June 6th
- Europa Sport Park, Berlin
- Prelims at 8:30 am local/Finals range from 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm local
- LCM (50m)
- Event page
- Start Lists
- Live Results
- Results
The last finals session had the the women’s 100m freestyle, 200m breaststroke, 50m backstroke, 200m butterfly, 800m freestyle and the men’s 100m freestyle, 200m IM, 400m freestyle, 50m freestyle and 50m butterfly on the schedule.
The women’s 100m freestyle final featured three women who are qualified for the German 4x100m freestyle relay in Tokyo: Hannah Küchler, Lisa Höpink and Annika Bruhn. The latter won the German championship title in 54.60 ahead of Hannah Küchler in 55.25 and Lisa Höpink with a time of 55.26. After the race, Annika Bruhn expressed her satisfaction with her performances as she swam the competition without a taper phase. Bruhn had many starts but she saw it as a part of her preparation for the Olympic Games, where she will be a frequent starter for the German team.
In the men’s event, Damian Wierling won with a time of 49.32 ahead of Jonathan Berneburg in 49.79 and Christoph Fildebrandt in 49.83. Damian Wierling and Christoph Fildebrandt belong to the German Olympic roster, they are both qualified for the 4x100m freestyle relay.
No German woman is qualified for the Summer Olympics in the 200m breaststroke. The German qualifying time was faster than the German record of 2:25.00. Kim Herkle was the fastest German in 2021 with a time of 2:25.40. The 17-year-old took the title today with a time of 2:27.43, with Bente Fischer grabbing silver in 2:28.04 ahead of Anna Kroniger 2:28.92.
The podium of the men’s 200m IM featured Ramon Klenz (2:01.11), Danny Schmidt (2:02.40) and Jan Delkeskamp (2:02.91). Danny Schmidt won the 2021 German national title in the 400m IM. Ramon Klenz also took the win in the 100m and 200m butterfly.
Two years ago, at the last German Championships before the Corona Pandemic, Florian Wellbrock grabbed the gold medal in the 400m freestyle. Wellbrock didn’t compete in these German Championships, he currently trains in high-altitude in the Sierra Nevada, Spain. Florian Wellbrock and Lucas Märtens are qualified for the Olympics, but also Henning Mühlleitner cracked the German Olympic standard time. Henning Mühlleitner could get the second individual spot if Florian Wellbrock won’t start in the 400m freestyle in Tokyo. Today, Henning Mühlleitner took the gold medal in 3:48.39 ahead of Oliver Klemet in 3:48.81 and Sven Schwarz in 3:50.00. Henning Mühlleitner is currently ranked 8th in the world with his season best of 3:45.36.
In the men’s 50m freestyle, Peter Varjasi won in 22.50 ahead of Martin Spörlein in 22.51 and Stefano Razeto in 22.79. Peter Varjasi studies and trains in the USA at the Florida State University.
Another title was secured by Nina Kost in the 50m backstroke in 28.48. Nina Kost trains in Heidelberg, Germany, but competes internationally for Switzerland. Behind her, Johanna Roas finished in 28.60 ahead of Lina Krüger in 28.98.
The men’s 50m butterfly final presented Björn Kammann as the winner with a time of 23.98. Emre Demirdas took silver (24.37), Georg Schubert grabbed bronze in 24.42.
Lucas Matzerath won his second title at these championships in the 50m breaststroke in 27.42. Also Melvin Imoudu (27.43) stepped onto the podium ahead of Philipp Brandt in 27.76. Lucas Matzerath is qualified for the Olympic Games in the 100m breaststroke event alongside Fabian Schwingenschlögl.
Kathrin Demler is the 2021 German champion in the 200m butterfly. In 2:11.79 she got her hands at the wall first ahead of Carolin Morassi in 2:12.73 and Marie Brockhaus in 2:13.24. Kathrin Demler studied and trained in the USA at the Ohio State University. In the fall of 2020, she returned to Germany, to the federal training base in Essen. She competed in the 200m IM at the European Championships 2021 in Budapest and finished 7th. She emphasized in an interview: “I had thought about retiring in the season 2020/21. Since I have made a good development this year and above all have fun again, I am looking forward to the next three years. Because I believe that I can achieve more.”
Marlene Sandberg picked up the gold in the women’s 800m freestyle with a time of 8:45,12. The 19-year-old won ahead of Lara Seifert (8:48.40) and Fabienne Wenske (8:50.20).