OLIVER ZEIDLER, 1996, Germany
Men's skiff world champion three times in a row (2019-2023).
Gold medal at the I, II and III Rowing World Cup 2023, bronze medal at the European Rowing Championships 2023.
What is the main trait of your character?
I am determined.
Has it influenced your sports career?
It has helped me to achieve my goals by focusing and putting my all into it.
What virtue do you wish you had?
Patience.
A fun fact about you.
I refused to row as a kid because I was convinced it wasn't the sport for me.
Do you have a motto for life?
Don't lose sight of the objective.
Your second favorite sport.
Swimming.
Three athletes you admire.
There are too many good athletes to choose just three.
What is the sporting milestone you remember most?
To qualify for my first Olympic Games at the World Championships in Linz in 2019.
How did you become a fan of your sport?
I come from a rowing family, and that's how I got into it. We went to see the world championships in Rotterdam in 2016 where my sister was competing, my aunt was there too and she convinced me to try it for real because she was sure I would fit in really well.
Who helped you the most to achieve your sports dream?
Without a doubt my father. I asked him in 2016 to teach me how to row and he has been with me ever since, we have been through the ups and downs together as an athlete and coach and I owe my success to him.
Your greatest achievement?
To be men's skiff world champion three consecutive times (2019-2023).
And your worst failure?
Failure to enter the 2021 Olympic final after dominating the season and being the favorite for the gold medal.
What has the sport taught you for life?
To be successful you need to work hard at it for a long time, so it is very important to have fun with what you are doing.
How would you like fans to remember you?
Like the kindly German skier who inspired people to take up rowing, even when they think it's too late to start something new at an older age.
What is the biggest challenge in your sport?
Rowing is a tough sport, you have to train hard to improve from a certain point, just to be ready for the seven-minute sprint of the big races.
What is the most important aspect of any training?
Continually striving for perfection, searching for the perfect stroke to finally find the perfect competition once in your career.
Do you have any rituals or hobbies before a competition?
No.
What role has your upbringing played in your sports career?
For me it has always been important to do something else besides my sports career. Right after finishing high school I did an internship and started university at the same time, to have a good educational background when I finish my sports career or to have a cushion if I have an injury that prevents me from rowing at a competitive level. Also, in Germany you can't make a living from rowing, in the end it's the income I have from my job that allows me to have a career in rowing and pay the bills.
And what role has sport played in your education?
Without the values that sport has taught me I would not have been able to succeed in studying and working and be selected for internship programs against other rivals with better academic grades. If you have been good at sport, even if you are among the best in the world, you want to achieve similar things after your career as an athlete, so the motivation that comes from sport is what led me to invest in my education and in myself.
A tip for the younger ones.
Have fun with what you do! In a way, try to question the training you are doing to become a better athlete by understanding your individual development and become a sparring partner for the coaches. Don't follow everything blindly, be smart.