Kieler Sporthilfe Foundation Boosts Athletes with Record Funding for 2024 Olympics

Kiel. The Kieler Sporthilfe Foundation is supporting the region’s sporting talents in the 2024 Olympic year with the second-highest amount in its 30-year history. A total of 70,800 euros will provide financial support to 28 athletes. That’s around 10,000 euros and eight more people funded than in the previous year. In addition, Kieler Nachrichten and Kieler Volksbank, the two founders of the foundation, each extended their partnerships by three years until 2026.

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“We are increasingly trying to get support from the Kiel economy,” emphasizes Gerhard Müller, Chairman of the Kieler Sporthilfe Foundation. “When funding, we focus on Olympic sports and want to give athletes the chance to prepare for competitions without any worries.” Competitions such as the 2028 Olympic Games, for which athletes such as beach volleyball player Momme Lorenz and sailor Ole Schweckendiek, among others or steeplechaser Adia Budde could come into question. The condition for admission to the foundation is a placement in the top 3 at North German or among the top 8 at German championships.

Hurdler Luca Hey is newly recognized by the Kieler Sporthilfe Foundation

“The funding is very important to me,” says Luca Hey, who has been a new candidate for the foundation this year. The hurdler from THW Kiel came fourth at the German championships in Kassel last year. The 24-year-old is studying electrical engineering at Kiel University of Applied Sciences and receives Bafög. With so many training sessions there is no time for a part-time job.

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“I still live quite frugally, but I have to pay at least 700 euros a year for shoes and spikes,” says Hey. “Otherwise I have to think about where I can make further compromises in everyday life.” With the support, he has a cushion on his side to cover the costs of materials and travel costs while he trains for the DM this year. “I definitely want to be in the final again and run a best time. Under 51 seconds would be a dream, but it won’t be easy.”

Sailors Emma Kohlhoff and Anna Barth benefit from funding

Also new to the Kieler Sporthilfe team are the sailors Emma Kohlhoff and Anna Barth – recently named “Surprise of the Year” in the Kiel Athlete 2023 election. “We are looking forward to exchanging ideas with many exciting contacts – that is very valuable for us from a sporting perspective,” says Kohlhoff. “The financial support is like the cherry on the cake.” The sailing duo can thus cover part of the material and travel costs.

Also new to receive funding are the windsurfer Hannes Gobisch, the judoka Mia Manukyan, the sailors Simon Heindl and Conrad Jacobs and the gymnast Greta Horn. On the other hand, windsurfer Lina Erpenstein is no longer there – for reasons of age, says Müller. The chairman is looking forward to starting an Olympic campaign with the Kiel Sporthilfe Foundation in 2024. Under the title “Tailwind”, Kiel’s athletes will be put in the spotlight in Paris.

KN

2024-03-23 12:35:33
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