Germany has selected 30 swimmers, 14 of them women, for the European s/c Championships in Rijeka, Croatia, from December 11-14. After 15 German records were set at the German s/c nationals in Essen at the weekend, including a 400m free European record for Paul Biedermann and Johannes Dietrich, the former European swimming powerhouse is set for a recovery from the doldrums in which it found itself swilling about at the Olympic Games in Beijing.
Biedermann, who broke Ian Thorpe's 200m freestyle world s/c record at the final round of the World Cup in Berlin three weeks ago, clocked 3:34.98 and 7:35.24 in the 400m and 800m free, while Dietrich lowered the 50 'fly record twice, in 22.64 and 22.62.
No Britta Steffen, double Olympic champion, in the squad. The sprinter is back in training that is entirely aimed at Rome 2009. No Antje Buschschulte either: the former Olympic and world medal winner, as suggested in the week of the world cup in Berlin three weeks ago, is hanging up her suit. No official announcement from the DSV, which will need top file the retirement papers with FINA and stop the agents calling on the odd cold winter morning when Antje may wish to have a lie in from now on. The 29-year-old is focussing on post-grad biology studies.
Germany, under the guidance of new head coach Dirk Lange, is in the process of putting in place a system recommended by outgoing performance director Orjan Madsen.
The Germany team:
Women: Dorothea Brandt (SG Neukölln Berlin), Petra Dallmann, Janne Schäfer (beide SV Nikar Heidelberg), Karoline Degenhardt, Lena Kalla (beide SV Würzburg 05), Franziska Hentke, Theresa Michalak, Daniela Schreiber (alle SV Halle/Saale), Raphaela Piehler (SC Delphin Ingolstadt), Caroline Ruhnau, Daniela Samulski (beide SG Essen), Lisa Vitting (SG Mülheim/Ruhr), Kerstin Vogel (SV Rhenania Köln), Christin Zenner (VfV Hildesheim).
Men: Florian Abele (SV Nikar Heidelberg), Paul Biedermann (SV Halle/Saale), Dimitri Colupaev (SG EWR Rheinhessen-Mainz), Markus Deibler (TG Biberach), Steffen Deibler (Hamburger SC), Johannes Dietrich (SC Wiesbaden 1911), Rafed El-Masri (SG Essen), Stefan Herbst (SSG Leipzig), Marco Koch, Yannick Lebherz (beide DSW 12 Darmstadt), Leif-Marten Krüger (SC Magdeburg), Helge Meeuw (SG Frankfurt), Johannes Neumann (SC Riesa), Thomas Rupprath (SC Empor Rostock 2000), Felix Wolf (Potsdamer SV), Jan Wolfgarten (SV Würzburg 05).
