Britta Steffen Pulls Out of Euro’s With Shoulder Injury

A year or so ago many people were still anticipating a match-up between Australia’s Jodie Henry and German world record holder Britta Steffen in Beijing. Henry is expected to announce tomorrow whether or not she will even compete in Beijing and now it looks like Steffen’s shoulder injury may be more serious than expected.

Chalk Up World Record Number Three for Ziegler

After having broke Laure Manaudou’s 800 free world record on the way out in her 1500 two days ago, Kate Ziegler took another shot at it today in Essen, Germany. Once again, she shattered it. The record stood at 8:11.25 before the weekend, and Ziegler went 8:09.68 (to the feet nonetheless) in her 1500. Today […]

Ziegler Update: Misses Record in 400, Full Splits and Results from Yesterday and Today

Speechless. That’s a word that many seem to have after seeing Kate Ziegler break world records in-season. After breaking the 800 and 1500 world record (in the same race) yesterday she followed that up with a win in the 400 free in Essen, Germany. The time (4:03.41), while still impressive, is dwarfed […]

Former World Champ Sandra Volker to Return from Retirement

Watch out Dara Torres, there is another mother coming back on the scene. Sandra Volker, quadruple medalist from the Atlanta Olympics for Germany, announced this week that she will be making a return to competitive swimming, with an eye on the 2008 Olympics.

German Swimming - Under Trained and Over Analyzed?

On the heels of one of the most disappointing World Championships in Germany’s history, it seems appropriate to take a look at the current state of swimming in Germany. It has been 18 years since the wall came down and the sport of swimming in Germany has been on a steady decline. Naturally, the steroid […]

Catching Up With East German Star Roland Matthes

“Actually, it’s all a closed chapter for me. It’s disturbing to see what elite sport has become, the kind of people who are involved, with their so-called know-how … it’s no fun to be involved in that kind of thing anymore.” Or so Roland Matthes told The Kingston Whig Standard when asked about swimming. A […]

Former German Swimming Star Van Almsick Attacks German Federation

On the heels of Germany winning only two gold medals and finishing a devastating sixth in the medal tallies at last month’s World Championships, former German swimming Franziska Van Almsick spoke candidly about her federation. Van Almsick told German sports magazine Sport-Bild that “Nobody should be surprised at the results in Melbourne and there will […]

Britta Steffen Surprised That Lenton is Dogged With Steroid Allegations

German world record-holder Britta Steffen has expressed her surprise at the questions raised regarding arch rival Libby Lenton’s increased bulk. According to widespread reports Lenton and her coach Stephan Widmer were angered by the drug-abuse innuendo at last week’s world championships trials in Brisbane.
Steffen, who broke Lenton’s 100m freestyle world record in August, has […]

German Women Lurz and Steffen Excel at Trials

The German women sprinters are off to a blazing start at the German World Championship Trials in Wurzburg. Annika Lurz (nee Liebs) set the second fastest 200m freestyle time in history, 1min 56.73 seconds, just .09 seconds short of fellow German Franziska van Almsick’s world record.
Meanwhile, the woman who snatched the world 100m freestyle […]

Germany Wants More Stringent Drug Testing

The German swimming heads have said that they plan to take all necessary measures to ensure their athletes are tested to avoid future suspicions of doping. The President of the German Swimming Federation (DSV) Christa Thiel sent an open letter to international swimming bosses and anti-doping groups outlining the DSV’s plans. The move comes […]

Lenton’s Coach Defends Germany’s Steffan

Libby Lenton’s coach has defended Britta Steffen against accusations of doping as Germany’s swimming federation embarks on a “blood passport” program aimed at protecting her reputation says The Age.
Steffen wasn’t good enough to make Germany’s final 4 x 100 relay team at the 2004 Athens Olympics. She did not race at all in 2005. […]

Germany May Examine Drug Enduced Records?

The German Swimming Federation said Monday it may examine some national records tainted by doping practices in the former East Germany, but presidium president Christa Thiel said, on SI.com, the organization is unlikely to follow the lead of Germany’s athletics federation and examine the records comprehensively.
Unlike athletics, where many national records are still held by […]