Swim legends Gross, van Almsick swam a relay at German Ball of Sports

by Daniela Kapser 2

February 11th, 2016 Europe, International, News

 

06. Februar 2016, Wiesbaden, Deutschland,Ball des Sports. In this photo: Roland Matthes, German swimmer with Germany's Federal President Joachim Gauck

Germany’s Federal President Joachim Gauck with Olympic Champion  Dr. Roland Matthes at the Ball of Sports 2016. Photo credit: Deutsche Sporthilfe/Herschelmann

The 46th “Ball of Sports” was held in Wiesbaden, Germany, on February 6th. For the first time, Germany’s Federal President Joachim Gauck visited the benefit gala of the German Sport Aid (Deutsche Sporthilfe). In the 2016 Olympic year, the charity gala took place under the heading: “Performance. Fair play. Together.”

The audience celebrated and honored especially  the newly minted European handball champions- the German men’s team won the European Championships one week ago – but also swimming had an amazing stage in front of 1,600 invited guests .

The proceeds from the charity gala, every year about 750.000 euros (845.000 USD) goes to the German Sport Aid. The promintent athletes, this time again over 100 medalist at Olympic Games, World and European Championships met the representatives of the top companies of the German economy – more than 150 companies participated as sponsors. Among other things, there was a raffle with prizes worth 500,000 euros (560.000 USD).

 

Photo can be used free of charge

A 25 m long pool was built into the “Bilfinger-Ball-Arena” for the 46th Ball of Sports in Wiesbaden, Germany. Photo credit: hassler-made.com

A 25 m long swimming pool was built into the event arena – for a relay with German swim legends: Multiple Olympic champions Dr. Michael Gross and Dr. Roland Matthes and German swimming icon Franziska van Almsick , she is the vice chairman of the Sports Aid Board. Michael Gross participated with a broken upper arm – so he preferred to swim crawl instead of butterfly. Perhaps the pool also would have been too small for his 2,13 meters (6 ft 11) wingspan. Gross is 2,01 meters – 6 ft 7 tall. Michael Gross is one of the most successful German swimmers ever – he was born in 1964 and won gold medals at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles in the 100 m butterfly and 200 m freestyle and he also got the silver medal in the 200 m butterfly and the 4 x 200 m freestyle relay. Roland Matthes, born in 1950, competed for the German Democratic Republic and is the most successful backstroke swimmer of all time – he won both the 100 m and 200 m backstroke from 1967 to 1974 including the gold medals at the 1968 and 1972 Olympic Games and also all titles at European- and World Championships.
Franziska van Almsick, born in East-Berlin in 1978, won 18 gold medals at European Championships and 2 gold medals at World Championships in her career. She participated at the Olympic Games from 1992 to 2004 and won two silver medals in Barcelona in 1992 and two bronze medals. She also were able to win the silver medals four years later again in the 200 m freestyle and 4 x 100 m medley relay. Her best stroke always was freestyle, in 1992 she set a world record in the 50 m freestyle (SC). Van Almsick never won an Olympic gold medal but she always got a lot of attention in the German public and media because of her relaxed appearance and her outstanding successes in European swimming. Her coach was Norbert Warnatzsch – whose most famous swimmer is Britta Steffen. Franziska van Almsick retired in 2004.
Franziska van Almisck after the relay. Also in this picture: Markus Deibler, Michael Groß, Christian Keller. Photo credit: Deutsche Sporthilfe/Herschelmann

Franziska van Almisck after the relay. Also in this picture: Markus Deibler, Michael Groß, Christian Keller.
Photo credit: Deutsche Sporthilfe/Herschelmann

The famous German swim champions were supported by more successful athletes from different sports: Kirsten Bruhn (paralympic swimming, Olympic gold medalist 2004, 2008, 2012), Lars Conrad (swimming, Olympic silver medalist 2004), Petra Dallmann (swimming, Olympic bronze medalist 2004), Markus Deibler (swimming, SC World Champion 2014, SC World record holder 100 IM), Anja Dittmer (triathlon, European team champion 2007), Thomas Fahrner (swimming, Olympic silver medalist 1984), Meike Freitag (swimming, Olympic bronze medalist  1996 and 2000), Steffen Gebhardt (modern pentathlon, World Champion 2007), Martin Herrmann (swimming, European silver medalist 1989), Christian Keller (swimming, Olympic bronze medalist 1996), Laura Lindeman (triathlon, junior World Champion 2014,  2015), Thomas Lurz (open water swimming, Olympic silver medalist 2012), Torben Schmidtke (paralympic swimmer, Olympic silver medalist 2012), Lena Schöneborn (modern pentathlon, Olympic gold medalist 2008), Hagen Stamm (water polo, Olympic bronze medalist 1984), Klaus Steinbach (swimming,Olympic silver medalist 1972), Stev Theloke (swimming, Olympic bronze medalist 2000), Christian Tröger (swimming, three times Olympic bronze medalist 1992, 1996).

Christian Keller am Start der Schwmmstaffel der Legenden

Christian Keller jumps into the pool. Photo credit: Deutsche Sporthilfe/Herschelmann

 

06. Februar 2016, Wiesbaden, Deutschland,Ball des Sports. In this photo: Michael Gross

“Fly albatross, fly” –  very famous cheer for the Olympic champion Michael Groß. Albatross was his nickname because of his wingspan. And butterfly his most successful stroke. Foto: Deutsche Sporthilfe/Herschelmann

 

Another highlight of the sports show was the performance of Thomas Lurz who is the most successful open water swimmer at World Championships where he won a total of 20 medals, 12 of them are golden ones and he won the silver medal at the 2012 Olympic Games in the 10 km and a bronze four years earlier at the 2008 Olympics. He competed from the 5 km up to the 25 km and in team competitions. He was supported at the Ball of Sports by other German  long-distance swimmers: Thore Bermel (bronze medalist at the European Games 2015) , Lea Boy (8th at the European Games 2015) , Britta Kamrau ( 4-time world champion in 2002, 2004 , 2007). They swam 25 kilometers in four hours and they collected money for a good cause. The company “Nordsee” donated 50 euros (56 USD) for each swum lane.

 

06. Februar 2016, Wiesbaden, Deutschland,Ball des Sports. In this photo: Lea Boy, Britta Kramrau, Thomas Lurz, Thore Bermel

Die Langstreckenschwimmer, die rund 1000 Bahnen für den guten Zweck schwammen (von links) Lea Boy, Britta Kramrau, Thomas Lurz, Thore Bermel. Foto: Deutsche Sporthilfe/Herschelmann

 

06. Februar 2016, Wiesbaden, Deutschland,Ball des Sports. In this photo: German swimmer Lea Boy

Lea Boy in Aktion. Foto: Deutsche Sporthilfe/Herschelmann

06. Februar 2016, Wiesbaden, Deutschland,Ball des Sports. In this photo: Markus Deibler, Michael Gross, Christian Keller, Franziska van Almsick

Die Staffel der Schwimm- und Sportlegenden beim Ball des Sports 2016. Foto: Deutsche Sporthilfe/Herschelmann

 

Press release of the German Sport Aid

 

 

 

 

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oli993
8 years ago

Albatross Michael Groß back in the pool, i never thought this could happen. He is a successful business man with his own company in germany and unfortunately avoids being in the water normally. Every german boy adored him in the 80s and we all startet to swim because we wanted to be like the albatross.
PS: Correction for this article, Franzi was born in 1978.

Daniela Kapser
Reply to  oli993
8 years ago

Thanks for the hint!

Yes, Michael Groß appearance was awesome … would be great to have him as an ambassador for German swimming at more events!