With his three Olympic participations, Stephan is one of the most experienced rowers in the German national scull team. The 31-year-old has already become World and European Champion in the double scull and “Krügi” can also do almost everything else. He is strong on the erg as well as in the single scull on the water. The allrounder has sat in all three scull boats in the past and therefore brings a lot of experience with him.
The past year has been an up and down year for Stephan. In the single scull there was only one athlete better than him: Oliver Zeidler. He then won the national decision in the double scull together with Tim Ole Naske, which he qualified for Tokyo 2020 at the World Championships in Linz. But with 10th place none of the scullers was really satisfied, so Stephan has to look for a new partner for the competition season this year, because “TOle” made it into the quad scull. At the World Cup I Stephan will start together with rookie Marc Weber, afterwards he will form a duo with Timo Piontek at the World Cup II. Then there will be a final decision for the Olympic Games. Will the native of Rostock find his ideal partner and thus participate in his fourth Olympic Games?
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Rarely has the international field of competitors been so strong and close together in the double sculls as this season. For Stephan and TOle, the World Championships is not really smooth, but the big goal, Tokyo 2020, is tangible.
In the infamous erg test, athletes have to go beyond their limits. Only those who invest everything have a chance of achieving the ambitious norm. While some athletes impress with personal bests and strong training performances, someone needs to talk to the head coach privately.
Stephan Krüger is one of the best rowers in Germany: World, European champion and three-time Olympic athlete. But he also has to face the tough selection of the double scull. The seat races are an extreme situation for body and mind, which not all athletes are up to.
After an eight-week break from training, the team is finally allowed to go back on the water. U23 world champion Marc Weber, in particular, is eager to return and has big plans. Meanwhile, an old friend is back on the team.