After “TOle” did not succeed in going to the Olympic Games in Rio in 2016, he drew attention to himself several times in the following Olympic cycle. With two German championship titles in single scull and a World Championship participation in double scull, the young Hamburg native gained a solid place in the scull national team. His biggest dream remains the Olympic gold medal.
Last year, he and Stephan Krüger were able to qualify the double scull for Tokyo 2020, but both rowers were not satisfied with their 10th place at the World Championships. To reach his dream, TOle trained harder than ever. With a new erg-best result and the victory of the single scull ranking there was no way around him this time. At the World Cup I the only 23-year-old is supposed to lead the quad scull on stroke back to old successes. Can he hold on to this pressure and thus fulfil his big dream of an Olympic gold medal?
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.
The provisional nomination for the quad scull seats has been made. What do the athletes have to say about it?
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.
Finally, the quad forms a solid unit. The two youngsters Max Appel & TOle Naske and the experienced Olympic champions Hans Gruhne and Karl Schulze are ready for the World Cup season, but in the middle of the euphoria they are torn from their dreams.
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.