Two Erdingers in the performance squad: Four kilometers swimming for breakfast

Milla Rudolf and Mark Bittner from Trisport Erding did it.

You train in the triathlon performance squad.

Erding – "Sorry, I just discussed the plan for the coming period with my new coach," Milla Rudolf apologizes for being a few minutes late.

For her, everyday life as a teenager has received a surprising twist, because the 15-year-old was appointed to the BTV junior squad.

Sighting weekend in Nuremberg: 50 meter freestyle, 400 meter freestyle and 1500 meter run - whoever achieves the best times in total will be included in the squad.

"I was pretty nervous before the start," says Rudolf, but as soon as I was in the water I just did what I always do - swim." And the girl from Erding made it into the team.

And this despite the fact that she has only been doing triathlon for a year.

She has been swimming in a club since she was six years old, Corona and the closed swimming pools steered her in the direction of triathlon.

"I started running before class.

Completely unstructured, just go and go around the field.”

Papa André started writing training plans for his talented daughter - with great success.

"The development curve of the last few months has really surprised me," says the athlete.

Under the professional supervision of Johnny Zipf, it will continue to rise sharply.

Perhaps she will also make it into the squad of the German Triathlon Union - like Mark Bittner, Trisport Erding's greatest hope for young talent.

The 17-year-old was also present at the sighting weekend, albeit as an "old hand".

He has been training at the sports boarding school in Nuremberg for four years.

“For us triathletes, the sighting weekend was part of our daily training.

But it was a surprise for me that I did so well,” said Bittner.

"I was only able to train again the last week before the competition because a severe flu had slowed me down for three weeks."

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Erdinger Mark Bittner has had a strong season.

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In the test runs themselves, nothing was to be noticed, the Erdinger took first place in youth A.

Just one of many successes this season.

In June he had finished third at the German championships, which gave him the jump into the junior squad of the DTU.

Discipline and, above all, a lot of passion for the sport of triathlon, that resonates in every sentence at Bittner.

"The boarding school is the best thing that could have happened to me," he says.

Being among like-minded people helps to concentrate on the sport, because with the tight daily program there is hardly any time for cinema and parties.

“Especially from January our day is completely scheduled.

I get up at 6:15 a.m., an hour later we are all in the water for 4 to 4.5 kilometers.

Lessons start at 10 a.m. until 2 or 3 p.m.

Then the next training sessions are scheduled.

Dinner is at 7 p.m., and then not much happens,” says Mark – with a smile on his lips.

Rudolf also dreams of big races.

"Six months ago I painted a picture of a swimmer.

With a pink swimming cap like mine - and it floats on Kona.

To take part in the world championships would be great.

But whether as a professional or as an age group athlete, time will tell.

The main thing is that I have fun doing it,” she says.

Results of the squad test: Mark Bittner (2005): 26.8 sec (50 m), 4:44.0 min (400 m), 4:21.9 min (1500 m) - Milla Rudolf (2007): 32.2 sec (50 m), 5:39.9 min (400 m), 5:33.3 min (1500 m)

Caroline Cornfine