2012 would not be unfairly characterized as one of the most disappointing in recent memory for the German Swimming Federation. Salvaged by a silver medal in the open water swim from the legendary Thomas Lurz, the Germans didn’t earn a single piece of hardware in the pool at the London Games.
Just as disappointing as 2012 ended, though, 2013 began as well. With a much earlier meet and softened qualifying standards under new coach Henning Lambertz, the Germans have avoided the post-Olympic down cycle we’ve seen in places like South Africa and Brazil.
24-year old Yannick Lebherz, entering into his prime for this Olympic cycle, swam a 4:12.47 in the men’s 400 IM, the first final of this championship, to break his own National Record. The previous mark was a 4:14.02 that he swam at this meet back in 2011.
The difference between that year and this year, though, is that this meet is a month earlier than it was in 2012, so the odds of him being able to repeat it in Barcelona greatly increase (in 2011, he was only a 4:17 at Worlds). The difference between his old record and his new record was entirely on the front-half; in 2011, he was out in 2:01.4, and here he was out in 2:00.0.
His time ranks him 3rd in the world in 2013, behind only a Japanese National Record and an Italian National Record.
In 2nd place was Kevin Wedel from the Rheinhessen-Mainz club in 4:17.33. That actually broke Lebherz’s Under-19 record by almost four seconds (it was a 4:21.11). Note that German Records aren’t kept on the basis of a birthday, rather on the basis of a claendar year. So this is the record for people born in 1994 this year).
Both swimmers hit the qualifying standard in the event.
The women’s race was won by Kathrin Demler in 4:45.15. That’s an impressive swim for the 16-year old, though still off of both the legendary Petra Schneider 4:36 set back in 1980 for the age group, and the World Championship qualifying mark.
The women’s 1500 free was won by Leonie Beck. She’s just 15-years old, but swam a 16:11.88 for the win and a new Dutch Age Record. For reference, that’s only a second slower than standout American 15-year old Becca Mann was at a meet in January, and Beck took this race out in 8:36.4 at the 800.
Sarah Kohler was 2nd in 16:15.05, and the two were well ahead of the rest of the field. Both easily met the German qualification standard.
In the men’s 800 free, Soeren Meissner won in 7:55.63, followed closely by Martin Grozki in 7:58.85. Grodzki actually led the field through 650 meters, but couldn’t keep up with Meissner’s finishing kick. For the winner, that’s a personal best by 8 seconds (ahead of his swim at last year’s European Championships that was his taper meet, so a pretty fair comparison of time.
Grodzki’s swim was also a personal best, which makes for a nice recovery after a challenging NCAA season that saw him unable to defend his titles in the 500 and 1650 yard freestyles.
Those swims both clear the FINA World Championship automatic qualifying time, and so both will punch tickets to Barcelona.
Note that Britta Steffen in the 50 free, Steffen Deibler in the 100 fly, and Markus Deibler in the 200 IM are automatically qualified to the World Championships so long as they are in the top two of those events based on their performances in London. Paul Biedermann falls under that category as well, though he pulled out of the meet due to health problems.
The four-day meet runs through this Sunday, April 28th.
Does anyone have a link to live results for this meet?
http://www.schwimm-dm.de/ergebnisse/
Each race has it’s own PDF. Have fun with the German. Note “Vorläufe” means Prelims.
IM is “Lagen”. The “Lagen” goes “Schmetterling”, “Rücken”, “Brust”, “Freistil”.
Is coulapaev swimming?
It’s a shame Germany isn’t the powerhouse France is in swimming. They have a bigger population, I guess they aren’t as well organized.
Philip – I would agree with your comment in 2012, however you don’t have to look back too far to see where things were flipped. In 2009, for example, Germany won 9 medals, including 4 golds and 4 silvers. They were second on the medal table that year. France was 18th on the same medal table (3 silver and 3 bronze).
Germany had some poor years in 2011 and 2012…but the talent is still there. It just didn’t perform at the right time.
Well said Braden ! Since the fast suits were forbidden , the Germans didn’t have great championships but they surely have lots of talent to show . Hopefully they will be much better for Barcelona .
They have a bigger population (81 millions against 65 millions) for the moment. Thanks to a good fertility rate in France and because of a bad fertility rate in Germany, experts say France will have a bigger population than Germany around 2055.
Is population really that important? I mean, it is to a certain extent but not entirely. For example, GB and France have similar populations (almost identical) – However in olympic games (total) since 2000 this is how things stand…GB 170 medals, France 146 medals (Any colour). Also in just golds it is…GB 68, France 42. Surely if population was so important we’d be equal?
Now, this is a prime example that population is not the right measure to use. Population of registered athletes?
Organization, a history of success and PARTICIPATION are the keys to success, It is without a doubt the key to the success in Australia for example.
81 million in Germany. 65 million in France. 1.3 billion in China. 313 million in USA. 22 million in Australia.
France will dominate the Germans at Worlds.
Congrats to you! It’s the prediction of the year! But I can also guarantee you France will dominate Kenya.
There is no need for sarcasm bobo. Germans are going to be much better than previous years.
I’m ironic if I want. Thank you. And about Germany, except Steffen Deibler, Britta Steffen and Paul Biedermann, I don’t see who else can play a medal.