Carlo Thränhardt experienced numerous highlights in his life. In terms of sport, he set a fabulous world record in the high jump in 1988 and he also attracted attention outside of sport, including by taking part in the jungle camp.
An absolute highlight was certainly the collaboration with tennis superstar Boris Becker, whom he looked after as an athletic and fitness trainer from 1993 to 1996.
In the new podcast SPORT1 Deep Dive Thränhardt talks about the special collaboration with Becker and goes into raptures: “He was a fantastic tennis player and a fighter before the Lord. He actually always played more against defeat than for winning.”
“His way of playing tennis was often underestimated back then, but even today,” praised Thränhardt: “He was incredibly good, also the way he could play, not just his fighting spirit and his basic motivation. He was exceptionally good, the guy.”
Boris Becker? “That didn’t happen again”
As an athletic and fitness trainer, the former world-class high jumper worked with numerous top athletes. But Becker left the biggest impression: “Boris was the most impressive in terms of his mindset. Especially in terms of the clarity of what he wants. That didn’t happen again.”
One quality in particular made a lasting impression on Thränhardt: “The beginning of training was always quiet. But he never stopped at the back. You didn’t destroy him because his will was so great.”
In conversation with SPORT1 Thränhardt also explained how the two of them came to work together: “We met once, during the Davis Cup. We talked for a long time and met often afterwards. Then we talked about sport, but also about life.”
“He went through a phase where he didn’t train that hard, where everything went a little too easily,” the former world record holder remembered: “At some point we talked about developing a real concept that he would become an even better athlete than he was before, in order to better incorporate the art of playing tennis.”
The collaboration paid off for Becker. He won a total of 13 tournaments during their time together, including the Australian Open in 1996.
