Karate fighter Reem Khamis won Germany’s first gold medal at the European Games. The German synchronized swimmers celebrated a historic success in several respects.
The double European champion Reem Khamis won the final of the class up to 61 kilograms against the world number one Anita Serogina from the Ukraine on Friday (June 23, 2023) in Oswiecim, Poland. At the end of the fight time it was 2:2, but Khamis from Hamburg benefited from the advantage of the first sole scoring and thus won the fight through Senshu. Johanna Kneer is also fighting for the next German gold medal on Friday evening. In the final of the class over 68 kilograms she meets the Italian Clio Ferracuti. Like Khamis, Kneer had won individual and team gold at the European Championships in Spain last March.
Seidel is the first man to win a team medal
The selection of the German Swimming Association (DSV) won silver in the free combination of synchronized swimming, it was the first German EM medal in 40 years.
With 163.3205 points, the team was behind Israel (248.6083) and ahead of Turkey (135.7999). In addition to Marlene Bojer, Maria Denisov, Solene Guisard (all SG Stadtwerke München), Klara Bleyer, Susana Rovner (both free swimmers Bochum), Amelie Blumenthal Haz, Daria Tonn (both SB Bayern 07), Michelle Zimmer (SC Wedding 1929) and Daria Martens (SSC Schwenningen) also included Frithjof Seidel in the selection. This makes him the first man in European history to win a team medal.
Only since this season have men been admitted to international team competitions, Germany was the only nation to make use of this in the combination. “I’ve often said how important it is to me that more men find their way into our sport,” said the SC Wedding swimmer: “I hope that this development will continue and that even more men will dare and integrate in the future become.”
Seven medals for Germany
On the third day of the European Games, the DSV team won seven medals for Germany. On Thursday there had already been four silver medals and one bronze medal in the sports of canoeing, shooting, BMX and beach handball.
