The Olympic favorite also wins the World Cup in Lucerne, but remains on guard.
Lucerne / Schwaig - time is a valuable commodity. This time that applies twice to Oliver Zeidler. The 24-year-old from Schwaiger was again the fastest at the Rowing World Cup in Lucerne. In addition to the third gold medal this year, he was also able to look forward to a handcrafted Swiss watch as the winner's reward. “A beautiful flyback chronograph with a manufacture movement and symmetrical dial,” he enthuses. It is already his third Swiss watch. "In the past few years I have always bought one for special occasions, and so a small collection has already emerged," says Zeidler, "a nice hobby alongside rowing".
Before the award ceremony, however, he had a lot to do.
"It was much tougher than in the last two finals," he told the local newspaper after the success.
He had already noticed that he had already run three races, "and that's why it wasn't that easy".
He had already won the preliminary, quarter-finals and semi-finals on the two days before when he went on the most beautiful route in the world on Sunday.
At least that's how Zeidler describes the regatta on the Rotsee.
However, he didn't have much time to enjoy the mountains and trees, because Mindaugas Griskonis, one of the two Lithuanians in the final, got off to a brilliant start.
But the world champion remained calm and after a good 500 meters pulled powerfully past the leader.
Zeidler then controlled the race and at times had a lead of up to twelve meters.
Sverri Nielsen, his eternal rival from Denmark, took on another final sprint, but with over two seconds behind he had no chance against the German student, who finished after 6:49 minutes and was thus more than 15 seconds faster than in the three races the days before.
Third was the Norwegian Kjetil Borch, another favorite for the Olympics.
Zeidler always has the games in Tokyo in view, so he warned after the World Cup victory in Lucerne.
“I had to go close to 100 percent, but I would have liked to have been challenged more.
The other guys are apparently holding back, ”he said.
Now it is important to stay tuned "so that there are no nasty surprises".
Zeidler admitted that he could still feel the tough races from the preliminary, quarter and semi-finals in the finals. “That will be different in Tokyo, because you always have a day off in between.” He is very confident, “because compared to the others, my fitness seems to be significantly better and I can go into the next regatta with a broad chest walk."
