Damian Wierling: Germany’s next freestyle sprint star

by Daniela Kapser 7

June 20th, 2016 Europe, International

Damian Wierling, born 02-13-1996, won the 50 m and 100 m freestyle at the 2016 German National Championships and set a new German record in the 50 m in 21,81. In the 100 m race, he outpaced Paul Biedermann who was tie for second place with Björn Hornikel in 48,65, Wierling finished first in 48,54 – also a personal best time. The German national record in the 100 m freestyle was set by Marco di Carli with a time of 48,24 in 2011.

With his perfomance in the 50 m freestyle he sits on the eighth place in the 2015/2016 world ranking:

2015-2016 LCM Men 50 Free

2Bruno
FRATUS
BRA21.37*relay12/18
3Anthony
ERVIN
USA21.4008/12
4Cameron
McEVOY
AUS21.4404/13
5Andrii
GOVOROV
UKR21.4608/11
6Nathan
ADRIAN
USA21.4708/11
7Ben
PROUD
GBR21.5408/11
8Vladimir
MOROZOV
RUS21.6904/16
9Simonas
BILIS
LTU21.7108/11
10cullen
JONES
USA21.7507/02
View Top 26»

His time in the 100 m freestyle wasn’t fast enough to reach the German olympic standard in prelims (standard: 49,12, Wierling: 49,17) but of course he is the hottest candidate for a spot in the German 4 x 100 m freestyle relay.

Because of the German olympic nomination procedure, Damian Wierling must confirm his performance at the German National Championships in the 50 m freestyle at the German Open in early July which he has chosen for the second qualification step: He has to swim faster than 22,85 in prelims and 22,60 in finals. A feasible task for the 20-year old swimmer who trains with Dorothea Brandt, Hendrik Feldwehr and Christian vom Lehn in Essen, Germany. His coach is Nicole Endruschat.

Damian Wierling finished third at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in Nanjing in the 100 free in 49,07 and 200 free in 1:48,91: “In the 100 m race I have learned the most. I wasn’t very good in prelims, I just reached the final on an outside lane. I was a little bit exhausted before the race and then I was able to swim a personal best time – this has been the most striking race of my career for me.” Damian told SwimSwam in an interview before his outstanding successes at the German National Chamionships.

Winning two German national titles are a special achievement for the 6’5” tall athlete: He suffered a pericardial inflammation at the beginning of 2015 and also had a nose surgery because of problems with the sinuses but he attended the medicine of the German Swimming Federation (DSV) Dr. Michael Ehnert: “I went several times to Hamburg to Dr. Ehnert – all my medical values are super stable.”

The student of economics at the University of Duisburg-Essen (Germany) is currently concentrating fully on his swimming career, after he has completed in 2014 the St. George’s International School Duisburg-Dusseldorf (Germany) with the A-level. At the international school he was taught in English in all school subjects – but a scholarship for example in the USA is not an option for the 20-year old: “Coordination between swimming and studying there is very good and you can finish your studies quickly but the training groups are very large and for me the individual training in Essen is better.”

Damian is looking forward to take part in his first Olympic Games. He doesn’t think that he will have problems with the special Rio competition rhythm with prelims starting at noon and finals at 10 pm. He was able to train under these circumstances with his team several times and he also competed at the Swim Cup Eindhoven with a competition schedule similiar to the Rio-rhythm: “So, I’m the guy who likes to remain awake longer and sleep longer, so I’m always been. I have found it convenient that the heats took place later and I could sleep a little longer in the morning. We had already changed the rhythm in a training camp in Turkey in Belek.” While other swimmers have problems with the need to sleep longer in the morning because of ambient noise and the brightness, the 20- year old looks relaxed to the changeover in Rio.

In addition to studying and training, Damian Wierling is regularly with Marco Koch at Arena swim clinics in Germany: “Marco is a super athlete and totally down to earth, although at the time he is Germany’s most successful swimmer and in the 200 m breast one of the best worldwide. I think he is a totally cool guy, I can talk with him about many things and if you have questions, for example about his nutrition, he always answers openly and honestly. It’s is always great to spend time with Marco.”

Damian Wierling will be one of the youngest swimmers in the German olympic swim team – but also one with a chance to make the olympic semifinal or final in Rio – and that would be a great success for the emerging German sprint star.

Im Interview meinte er noch bescheiden, über die 100 m Freistil wären Steffen Deibler und Paul Biedermann sicher schneller. Falsch, Damian: Du bist der neue Deutsche Meister über die 50 m und 100 m Fresistil. Und dazu noch mit deutschem Rekord über die 50 m . Mit gerade mal 20 Jahren. Foto: Mirko Seifert.

Damian Wierling, Germany, photo by Mirko Seifert

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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thomaslurzfan
7 years ago

I think the headline is a bit weird …
Wierling isnt the next german freestyle sprint star, but the first ever (if you really want to call him a star).
At 1992 olympics german swimmers finished 8th in mens 50 free and 7th in mens 100 free
At 1996/2000/2004/2008/2012 olympics no german swimmer reached the final of mens 50/100 free

Wierling could be the first german male swimmer since 1992 to reach an olympic 50/100 free final.

In 1998/2003/2005/2007/2009/2011/2013/2015 no german swimmer reached the final of mens 50/100 free at world championships.
In 2001 Spanneberg finished 6th in mens 100 free at the world championships.
I couldnt find the results of 1994 swimming world championships.… Read more »

Daniela Kapser
Reply to  thomaslurzfan
7 years ago

Hi – as you said: “Wierling could be the first German male swimmer since 1992 to reach an olympic 50/100 free final.” And he is only 20 years old. So “star” isn’t SO wrong …. But he is the next fast generation in German swimming – with Florian Wellbrock and Johannes Hintze.
He is also very fast in the 200 m free but concentrates on the 50, 100 m at the moment. He missed the nomination standard for the 100 m in prelims at GER nats ….and I don’t know what he plans for German Open – and what Lambertz’s plans are – only 4 x 100 m freestyle relay or also the 100 m free? He is allowed… Read more »

ERVINFORTHEWIN
7 years ago

very interesting fro German swimming and sprint free racing

Jon Nap
7 years ago

I love seeing young stars on the rise! Great swims!

Daniela Kapser
Reply to  Jon Nap
7 years ago

Damian is also fast in the 200 m free but has concentrated because of his illness on the 50 and 100 m free.

Hswimmer
7 years ago

Awesome! Wishing him the best.

Daniela Kapser
Reply to  Hswimmer
7 years ago

Thank you for your kind words – I’am sure Damian appreciates!