Kaufering - Despite Corona, the German Swimmer Masters Championships recently took place in Braunschweig. With over 600 participants a challenge for a good corona hygiene concept. Therefore, the German was not an indoor, but an outdoor pool event with all the surprises that the weather brought with it. From sunshine to thunderstorms, there was everything in the classic fast North German change - but the Kaufering Masters were by no means deterred.
First of all: three athletes from VfL Kaufering took part very successfully and collected a total of nine German championship titles and many other excellent placements.
Above all Matthias Weiss.
He confirmed his exceptional position in the age group 65 with a total of seven championship titles and one silver medal.
This is all the more remarkable since, according to his own admission, he suffered “very much from the cool water temperatures”.
Susanne Dörries started in age group 30.
With success: She won gold over the 200 meters back and freestyle in "outstanding times", according to VfL department head Udo Franke.
The 200 meter freestyle was a head-to-head race from the start, which Susanne Dörries won over the last ten meters with a wafer-thin margin (0.5 seconds).
The great atmosphere and the friendly treatment of all Masters was evident after this race, when the two contestants exchanged smiles with each other and announced that they would not have achieved this great performance without the other.
Dörries secured a bronze medal in the 100 meter freestyle.
Charline Heap was not in routine mode again after a long break from competition.
In the age group 25 achieved a good midfield placement and is one of the top 15 in Germany.
30 percent less
The successful participants expressed concern for the future, as a decision by the District Office reduced the training times in the Lechtalbad for the swimming clubs by around 30 percent.
"We hope for a benevolent examination of the situation by the district office", says department head Franke, "so that VfL Kaufering can again, as in the past, offer a wide range of offers for the people in the district." Department of VfL Kaufering does not meet all requests.
By the way: The responsibility and role model function of the master swimmers in times of Corona was also evident in the vaccination rate, which was over 94 percent of the participants.