Theis Hagemeister's Olympic dream

Created: 08/11/2022 16:33

Is now one of the best rowers in the country: Theis Hagemeister, who started his career at the age of eleven in the Kaufering rowing club.

© tom

Kaufering – The former Kauferinger Theis Hagemeister is now one of the best rowers in the country.

He is part of the German senior national team and rows on the great rivers of Europe at world and European championships.

He laid the foundation for his success in Kaufering - on the Lech.

Hagemeister, who moved to the district with his family when he was eleven, gained his first experiences and successes in a rowing boat in the Kaufering rowing club.

“It was really a very good time.

We were a really cool group and we had a lot of fun together off the water,” recalls the 25-year-old.

In addition to the fun of rowing, he became ambitious over the years.

"At some point I wanted more.

New clubs, new partners – and even more rowing,” says Hagemeister.

He now lives in Dortmund, where he trains for the major rowing events with the national team.

There he has a permanent place in the "four without", a boat class in which the rowing boat is occupied by four rowers and there is no helmsman.

“The four is technically much more demanding than, for example, the eight.

Every mistake weighs even more heavily,” explains Theis.

He usually sits at the very back of the boat, the bow, from where he can control the ship well.

With his team of four, Hagemeister regularly takes part in World Cup events throughout Europe.

At the competition in Switzerland at the end of June, the German boat took fourth place.

Hagemeister: “We are very satisfied with our performance.

Only the top nations Australia, England and Romania could beat us.”

As part of the world elite, the German team is heading for the rowing highlight of the year: From today, Thursday to Sunday, the European Championships in rowing (24 medal decisions) will take place in Munich as part of the “European Championships”.

At the home European Championships at the traditional Olympic regatta facility, Hagemeister's team wants to confirm the good performances from the World Cup events.

And for this, Hagemeister, who is also studying business administration, trains at least twice a day.

In addition to the "classic" rowing training in a boat or on an ergometer, the program also includes racing bikes and strength training.

Of course, that is often very exhausting, "but the anticipation of the European Championships at home compensates for everything," says the 25-year-old.

Hagemeister has a big goal in two years: Paris.

The Summer Olympics will take place there in the summer of 2024, and there will also be a medal decision in the “fours without” category.

Hagemeister: "Being able to row for gold, silver or bronze would be incredible."