DIFFERENT DNA. SAME ATTITUDE

Is archery not a competition?

Of course it is. However, in archery everyone mainly competes against themselves and they compare performances afterwards. It’s very objective, there’s no room for interpretation.

What do you mean by that?

You don’t have any influence over your opponent, we don’t have any contact when we’re at the shooting range. We shoot our programme and see what happens. Even if I shoot almost perfectly, I could still lose if the other person has that one shot better than me. It only makes sense to focus on myself. We’re happy if we shoot a personal best, and if someone else shoots better, so be it. But you strive to do your very best. And that’s where mental strength is key: it’s about executing the shot the way you want it. However, this is where the fear of the wrong shot quickly comes in, which you have to completely block out. So you’re also fighting against your own thoughts, as it were.

Is archery a lonely sport?

I wouldn’t say that. Even though, as I said, we don’t see the others at the shooting range and it’s everyone for themselves, at the same time we go to the target after three or six arrows and discuss everything together. There we have a lot of time to talk at length. When I’m shooting, I’m in a bubble, but we talk a lot before and after. Archers do that at all levels – even at the Olympics.

Are there other aspects that fascinate you?

Yes, certainly. There’s the technical side. The interaction with the bow. You’re constantly optimising things, trying out this or that until everything sits just right for you. Then you develop further and of course you have to adapt the equipment again. That never stops. I like that.

Do you have a certain ritual to find your focus?

Only for the individual shot. From the moment I insert the arrow, everything is always the same. That makes for better results. But there’s nothing like superstition or anything like that. Imagine if you weren’t able to do that on a given occasion. That brings us back to mental strength. I don’t need such a ritual.

How do you improve by training?

The main aspects happen in your mind: what can I improve in the mental process around taking the shot? Then the shooting process itself; what movements do I make? Depending on the movement in question, they’re easier or harder to reproduce. We look for the most error-tolerant and reproducible movement sequence. You improve by repeating an optimally repeatable set of movements. There’s also a difference between training and competition. If something works in training but not in competition, there’s room for improvement.

If you could make a wish for archery in general, what would it be?

More people should just try it out. It’s really interesting when we do training for beginners – there we see their fascination and enjoyment right from the first shot. If more people tried it, then more would discover archery as a sport for themselves. I’m sure of that.

When I was watching videos on Wheel Gymnastics, the first thing I asked myself was: Do you often get your fingers trapped under the wheel?

(Laughs) Yes, when you start out it happens maybe five times or so, then opening your hands becomes automatic. But you have to go through it.

Is it difficult to learn?

Yes, it is. It’s not a sport for everyone, you need a level of basic body tension. You can quickly see whether it’s right for someone who’s new to wheeling. And, your head is an essential part of things at all times, you have to concentrate fully. It’s demanding to learn, not least because the apparatus itself moves, unlike, for example, the parallel bars or high bar.

What's the first thing you do when you start off? What's the first step?

First, you start next to the wheel. You watch how the wheel rolls when you push it, just to get an idea of how the wheel moves. Then you continue with the rung, like in a hamster wheel. That’s how you start to develop a feeling – and when you acquire that body tension. Finally, you put your feet in the bindings and go upside down for the first time. Of course, everyone wants to try that out.

There's Straight-Line, Vault and Spiral. What is your favourite?

We’ve been doing spiral and vault for only five years in our club; before that we only did straight-line. That’s also the standard discipline in the club, that’s why we’re good at it. Now I also like doing spiral, because I can do it all by myself and I can just try things out. You need more body tension and strength for that. I don’t do vault anymore, I injured myself four years ago and it doesn’t appeal to me anymore. My body also blocks it, my head just won’t let me jump. Maybe that’s a good thing.

You’re also a trainer. Are there many young people who want to learn it?

Yes, there are. Once a year we have a gymnastics show. Then everyone gets to see the wheel and many – especially girls – want to try it out. And they can. And if someone shows talent, then we bring them into the performance group.

Do you ever see one of your kids and think: "Wow they’re better than me!"?

Yes, I do. That’s also success for me as a trainer. It makes me happy. In my age group, however, I prefer to be ahead in competitions myself, of course. We’ve changed a lot and the environment in the club has become much more professional. The training is quite simply different today. That spurs me on again when I see a girl doing something really good, and I want to be able to do it, too. As an older person, however, you tend to think that bit more, while the young ones just do it. I can still learn from that, from their easiness. After all, you don’t want to stand still.

Can you make a living out of Wheel Gymnastics?

It’s a passion. That’s why I like to be in the hall in and on the wheel a lot. As an athlete, I do it because I simply enjoy it. Money doesn’t really play a role.

Do you think about runinning when you run?

Well, in the beginning I did. Breathing, for example. You listen to every breath. Today it’s different. I can do it in my sleep. After five minutes I’m often so in the zone that after one and a half hours I realise, ‘Oh, I have to go home.’

It’s the middle of November, you wake up at 6:00 a.m., it’s two degrees celsius outside and drizzling rain. What’s your first thought?

I’m already dreading autumn again. It’s a hard season. But running is like brushing your teeth; it’s not fun every day, but you always feel better afterwards. Of course, there are days when you have stomach pains or stress in your private life. But even then I go running, because I know that I always feel better afterwards. With that in mind, it’s not so bad to get out and start running. And if the drizzle turns into pouring rain, it doesn’t matter.

How did you discover your passion for running?

On a night out with friends I was showing off and said I could run a marathon. Then I had to prove it. But that’s not when the passion developed. Things clicked a few years later, when I tried it again ‘sensibly’. I prepared myself, read books: which shoes, which technique, which socks, which T-shirt, taped nipples and so on. Then with the right preparation came a second marathon. I was still proud of completing my first run, which I finished with bloody feet and cramps – but the pain was forgotten. The next time I was 35 minutes faster, but the best thing was: I had no problems afterwards. A bit of muscle ache, but you can take that. That was when things clicked: sensible preparation, better result.

But then it went further?

Yes, I asked myself the question, ‘What can I achieve with even better preparation?’ Training four times a week instead of three. Then training five times, then seven times. Then came the triathlon, then the Ironman (4km swim, 180km biking, 42km run) and so on. Finally, I wanted to win an Ironman, which I managed to do. I was the first across the line after nine hours. That’s when I found my inner peace. You can always improve, but I was satisfied with the Ironman victory. I’m also fighting age now, so now it’s about not getting any slower.

Not interested in Ultramarathons?

Yes, of course, I’ve done one: crossing the Harz Mountains, which also involves a lot of altitude. The length doesn’t bother me anymore. It doesn’t matter whether you run for eight or ten hours. You just adjust your pace. I’ve also cycled across the USA.

Training and working during the week, going to races at the weekend. Is that compatible with a normal family life?

I do it because it’s fun, not because I have to. My girlfriend goes along with it, maybe she understands it. Actually, it’s difficult to understand, but she certainly goes along with it at least. But that’s how it is with every hobby – even if you collect stamps or something, you retreat into your room for two hours. When I come home after running, I’ve already processed a lot of the day. Everyone benefits from that.

If you could make a wish for your sport, what would it be?

More people should just try it out. Many never even get started, but starting off with, say, three kilometres would be great. And if it’s fun, you keep going. I think anyone could run a marathon. Anyone can work their way up to it.

Do you need talent or is it something you can learn by training hard?

Clearly, both: the more talented you are and the more you work, the further you will go. Talent without hard work won’t get you far, either. So, besides talent, you certainly need a good amount of dedication as well to make it to the top.

Do you feel that your body sometimes tells you to stop skateboarding?

You know, I’m now 34 and have been skateboarding for 20 years. It definitely takes its toll on the body. When you’re younger, you don’t usually worry about your body of the future. So I used to jump big step sets very frequently and for a very long time, which ultimately might not have been so beneficial for my body condition today. I’ve had to learn to deal with the injuries of the past and can actually only continue to skateboard pain-free and at a certain level because I prepare my body for it and also do other sports.

Is skateboarding a dangerous sport?

It definitely can be dangerous. How dangerous it is depends on which spot and trick you choose and how good you are at assessing your skills. So ultimately how risky it can get depends on you. Good self-awareness certainly helps you stay safe.

What was your best skateboarding moment ever?

An absolutely unique moment was a film shoot in the salt desert in Bolivia: altitude of 4,000 metres, mega bright, the sun was blazing, we wore oxygen masks, I suffered from altitude sickness and we only had four days. But, the skatepark was built especially for us out of salt blocks. That was really special, because no one ever skateboarded there again afterwards.

You’re studying clothing technology alongsides your skateboarding career. Why is that?

It started with a desire to tailor my own trousers. I wanted them to be something different than what you could get on the market, in line with my preferences and requirements. So I taught myself to sew and it just made sense to study the subject to acquire a higher level of knowledge about pattern construction and everything that goes with it.

How does that fit in with skateboarding?

I’m pretty detail-oriented. That’s why I want to express myself as perfectly as possible when I skateboard. Besides the actual skateboarding, my clothing style is also part of the whole. That pushes me to develop new ideas and keep going. So both of my passions complement each other.

If you could make a wish for skateboarding in general, what would it be?

I wish that skateboarding was more integrated into the cultural city scene and that skateboarders weren’t pushed to the fringes of cities. In my opinion, it clearly belongs in the cityscape. Skateboarding could be integrated into urban development in general, like in Denmark, for example, I’d love that. Otherwise, skateboarding is developing quite well. It’s become an Olympic discipline now, so more public money can go into promoting it, which means more skateboarders. In addition, during the pandemic period many people have rediscovered the simple things – the board and you, and that’s it.