“This terrific success is an impressive testimony to our dual model, which gives students who combine their studies at the University of Potsdam with a commitment to competitive sports the flexibility they need to plan their studies. Nevertheless, the double burden on them is still enormous. Our Potsdam Olympians deserve the greatest respect for overcoming this challenge.”
The highlight from Potsdam's point of view happened in the second week of the competition with canoeist Jacob Schopf. Together with his colleagues Max Rendschmidt, Max Lemke, and Tom Liebscher-Lucz, the teaching degree student from Kanu Club Potsdam secured the gold medal in the men’s kayak four 500m sprint – after a thrilling final, they crossed the finish line four hundredths of a second ahead of Australia. Schopf repeated his tremendous success in the double kayak together with Max Lemke. “Gold for Jacob Schopf” was also proclaimed at the end of this race. The aspiring teacher was thus able to reinforce his strong results from the last competition year. "I am simply overwhelmed. Olympic champion! You can’t beat that. It is the greatest thing you can achieve in a canoe. A title for all eternity,” Schopf wrote in his Olympia blog. The Potsdam student already won a silver medal in the kayak doubles with his team-mate Max Hoff at the Olympic Games in Tokyo. A success that he has now surpassed with his two victories in Paris.
Student Maren Völz was the first to win a medal at these Olympics on the 5th day of competition: She won a bronze medal in the quadruple scull with Pia Greiten, Leonie Menzel, and Tabea Schendekehl. In a strong finish, they rowed from 5th to 3rd position. Two other students from Potsdam missed out on a medal, but also put in great performances: Clemens Prüfer from SC Potsdam made it to the Olympic discus finals. With 67.41 meters, the business informatics student finished in an excellent 6th place. Marvin Dogue, a former business administration student at the University of Potsdam, ranked 8th in the modern pentathlon. For a long time, the OSC Potsdam athlete was in a promising position for a medal, but was defeated in the end.
However, the Games are not over yet. With the participation of student Verena Schott and alumna Maike-Naomi Schwarz, Brandenburg's largest university will also be represented at the Paralympic Games in Paris from August 28 – September 8, 2024. We are keeping our fingers crossed for the two swimmers.
Contact:
Academic Sports Center
E-Mail: hochschulsportuuni-potsdampde
Media information 15-08-2024 / No. 079