In Slovenia, Oliver Zeidler wants to build on the recent World Cup success in Zagreb. © IMAGO/Luka Stanzl/PIXSELL
Four seconds ahead in the heat: Oliver Zeidler got off to a perfect start in the regatta. But there is still a lot of work to be done.
Schwaig/Bled – It was a small demonstration of power: Oliver Zeidler won his heat on Thursday afternoon with a lead of more than four seconds and thus easily avoided the hope run on Friday. After all, the rower from Schwaig doesn't want to waste any energy when things get serious at the European Championships in Bled this weekend. He has been in Slovenia since Tuesday, the semi-finals will take place on Saturday, and he wants to regain the European Championship title on Sunday. We spoke to the 26-year-old world champion.
Mr. Zeidler – is the European Championships in Bled your chance to make you forget about the "European Championships at home"?
No, that's already a sting that will sit eternally deep. That was a home European Championship where I couldn't show what I wanted and what I would have been able to do under normal circumstances due to health problems. But it's a European Championship. It's all about titles. And I don't go to a championship without having the will to win. But of course it can't be a reparation for Munich.
You won the World Cup in Zagreb right away from training – does that make you the favourite to win the European Championships?
We have a pretty tight program this year – but actually, that's always the case. Then you have to go to a regatta out of training. But yes, that went very well. Will that make me the favourite for the European Championship? I don't think so. I'm not the defending champion either. And not all the top rowers were there in Zagreb.
But, for example, eternal rival Sverri Nielsen. The Dane was two and a half seconds slower.
Yes, I was already satisfied that I was able to show my good form. I've already shown the others that I'm in a good mood.
What has happened in the field of rowers? Are there any interesting newcomers? Who are the toughest competitors?
There are some new names. However, you will see how they are doing in Bled. The European Championships are a good first assessment. And, of course, there are the competitors from previous years, from Greece, Norway or Bulgaria. You can't underestimate anyone.
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Her "winter break" was also very interesting: How was the two-week cross-country skiing holiday?
It wasn't a holiday, it was training. We were in Livigno at an altitude of 1800 meters. In Switzerland you can skate wonderfully.
Cross-country skiing – has it always been fun for you?
For me, skiing used to be downhill skiing. In the 2018/19 season, I was on cross-country skis for the first time with the Germany eight, learned it there and found joy in it. The past winters I did it on the side. It's something different to make good use of the cold temperatures, otherwise the cold is more annoying for us rowers. In addition, skating is a great endurance unit.
In the pre-season, you and your coach particularly trained endurance – were these the lessons learned from the European Championships or are there other reasons?
It has less to do with the European Championship. We have set other priorities. It's about less intensity, but long sessions in the low pulse range to build stable foundations. So far I am very satisfied. The values, which are measured regularly, also speak for this training structure. We have a very long season with the first regattas in March and the World Championships in September. It's very hard to always be at the top level. The goal is to increase performance to the peak.
This means that Oliver Zeidler in September will have a different level than the European Championship Zeidler.
That's the approach: Of course the European Championship is important, but the World Cup counts even more. You can also see this as a test run for next year, when everything is geared towards the Olympics. If it works out this year, our planning could serve as a blueprint for Paris.
Afterwards, there was still time for the 26-year-old Schwaiger to visit the CN Tower. © private
We still have to talk about a highlight of the winter season. You were at the World Indoor Rowing Championships in Canada – how did that come about?
I also did that because of the venue. I was already there in 2019, back in Los Angeles. This time it was Toronto, where I could also enjoy the trappings and sightseeing very much. But the competition was also very cool.
Tell us.
60 people sat on the ergometers at the same time – the whole thing took place on an ice hockey field. Then it started, all at the same time, 2000 meters. On a big screen, we could always see who was in front.
And in the end, that was you. Congratulations on the next world championship title.
Thank you.
Which brings us to the next title: the European Championships in Slovenia. What's the timeline?
We've been here since Tuesday. And now let's just see what the weekend brings.