Beach volleyball: Germany misses EM title despite strong performance

Beach volleyball: Germany misses EM title despite strong performance

den Haag (dpa)-One week after their dramatic final in Paris, beach volleyball players Nils Ehlers and Clemens Wickler were again under great pressure. This time it was the European Championship that she had in focus. Unfortunately, even in the final against the Latvian athletes Martin's Plavins and Kristian's Fokerot, it was not enough for the longed -for title. With results from 21:17, 20:22, 5:15, they missed the dream of the European championship title and thus remain without this success.

The two athletes had already mastered an intensive challenge in the form of the Olympic final in the week before, where they had to compete against the Swedish duo David Åman and Jonatan. Her decision to take part in the continental championship immediately after the Olympic Games turned out to be an enormous stress factor. Unlike other teams who treated themselves to a break, Ehlers and Wickler fully fought.

strong semi -finals and unexpected exhaustion

Your way to the final was hard fought. In the semi -finals they faced the Italians Samuele Cottava and Paolo Nicolai. This game, which was described as incredibly scarce and challenging, required everything from the two German players. Ehlers, 30, and his partner Wickler, who had one year younger, needed three sentences to throw the Italians out of the tournament with 18:21, 21:17 and 16:14. Wickler commented on the game: "It was a megaknappe game. The two of them put a lot of pressure on. It could have ended."

This mental and physical high -performance game seemed to be drawn to their strength. So they failed in the crucial final of exhaustion. The disappointment is understandable, but your performance should not be underestimated. After all, they made it to the final and seem to grow as a team.

On the other hand, Svenja Müller and Cinja Tillmann celebrated a radiant success and became European champions. In an exciting final, they prevailed against the Italians Valentina Gottardi and Marta Menegatti with 21:17, 21:18. This was a significant triumph for the duo, after all, it was the first European Championship title for German women in beach volleyball for seven years.

"It's great, I couldn't be happier," said the young player Müller after her victory. Tillmann, her experienced partner, praised her cool and focused way of playing: "I find it incredible how Svenja plays the big tournaments in her young age and withstands the pressure so well."

Both German teams are now facing a tight schedule with further challenges. From Thursday, the Beach Pro Tour will continue in Hamburg with an elite tournament, followed by the German Championships on Timmendorfer Strand, in which both teams compete as defending champions. This requires an immense preparation, both mentally and physically.

A look into the future of beach volleyballs

The dynamics of beach volleyball in Germany shows both successes and hurdles. Winning medals is essential for self -confidence, but the constant challenge of remaining efficient after big tournaments such as the Olympic Games is a great burden for the athletes. Ehlers and Wickler must now find the mental strength to let the failed attempts grow.

While the successes of Müller and Tillmann represent motivation for all players, the discrepancy between the achievements of women and men in the German beach volleyball scene remains obvious. This topic could mean that targeted support for male athletes will be sought in the future to help them master the next step.

Summer promises to remain exciting for the German beach volleyball teams. The upcoming title and the hard work behind it are reason enough to continue to actively support the athletes.

The results of the Beach Volleyball European Championship illustrate the growing competition in European beach volleyball. Countries such as Latvia, Italy and Norway show that they are able to compete with the German teams that have been dominant for a long time. With their victory against Ehlers and Wickler, the Latvian players Martin's Plavins and Kristian's Fokerot have demonstrated that they are able to keep the level of international competitions and may be among the favorites in the future.

The German teams have particularly emerged at the European Championships, but the challenge of showing top performance under high pressure is clearly visible. European competition is characterized by large performance density in both women and men. This leads to an increase in the requirements that are placed on the athletes and the need to be prepared accordingly in times of appointment stress.

The sporting development in Germany

The successes of Svenja Müller and Cinja Tillmann are not only a moment of joy, but also reflect the positive development of beach volleyball in Germany. Sport has been very professional in recent years, which led to more visibility and better support. Sponsors and media attention grow, which is an advantage for new talents and the entire sport. This has caused young athletes like Müller to be able to prove themselves at an international level.

The training options and the infrastructure in Germany are also increasing. More facilities and professional trainers are available, which helps the athletes to further develop both technical and tactical skills. Programs for talent promotion and academic support for athletes were initiated to pave the way for young talents.

the international comparison

internationally, beach volleyball moves quickly. Brazil and the United States traditionally dominate the scene, but European countries are increasingly showing that they are able to compete with the best. Countries such as Latvia, Norway and the Netherlands have produced talented athletes who are on the podium at international tournaments. The changes in the style of play and in training by the individual nations could also offer German teams new perspectives to improve their own way.

Another aspect is the development of technology tools in sport that are used to analyze games and improve your own performance. Athletes adapt their strategies based on the data collected, and this could play a decisive role in the upcoming competition in Hamburg, where both Ehlers/Wickler and Müller/Tillmann have to defend their titles.