At the FISU World University Games in Chengdu, China, three students from TU Dortmund University and two Students from Ruhr University Bochum won the silver medal in the rowing eights on Sunday, 6 August. Lukas Föbinger, David Keefer and Leon Schandl (TU Dortmund) as well as Henry Hopmann and Tom Tewes (Ruhr-Universität Bochum) are very happy with their performance in the exciting race and are impressed by the FISU Games, the world’s second-largest multisport event after the Olympic Games.

The German eight got off to a good start and pushed forward with intermediate sprints. The team was able to secure second place stroke for stroke, being beaten only by the strong Dutch team. “The students from the Netherlands prepared for the event for a year and couldn’t be defeated,” says Leon Schandl (24), who is completing his bachelor's degree in civil engineering at TU Dortmund University. "We were able to bump the Chinese team down to third place thanks to a strong team effort." Alongside his fellow students David Keefer (23), who is studying for a bachelor's degree in economics, and Lukas Föbinger (26), who is currently writing his master's thesis in chemistry, Schandl can now enjoy the FISU Games closing ceremony.

 

The five University Alliance Ruhr students made up the majority of the team. Friedrich Dunkel (Universität Hamburg), Henning Köncke (Medical School Hamburg), Till Martini (Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg) and Rene Schmela (Ruhr West University of Applied Sciences) rounded off the German crew. The team had to overcome some challenges – rowing in an unfamiliar boat provided by the organizer, and extreme humidity and high temperatures. “Under these circumstances, their performance should be commended even more," says Christoph Edeler, head of Dortmund University Sports, who is also in Chengdu as a member of the German team's delegation. “The event is exceeding all expectations. Everything here is simply gigantic and perfectly organized. Nothing is left to chance.” Since 28 July, a total of 6,500 student athletes from 119 nations in 18 sports have been competing for medals in Chengdu. For the German team, there are 160 outstanding student athletes at the starting line, making them one of the largest teams at the event.

At the closing ceremony tomorrow, 8 August, the flag of the International University Sports Federation (FISU) will be handed over to the upcoming organizer of the games: The 2025 FISU Games will take place in Germany on the Rhine and Ruhr rivers. The universities and students are heavily involved in the preparation and implementation of the event.