Buhl Breaks The Spell: World Champion In Laser

Buhl Breaks The Spell: World Champion In Laser
Buhl Breaks The Spell: World Champion In Laser
Anonim

The moments when Philipp Buhl and national coach Alex Schlonski embraced each other after crossing the finish line in the twelfth and final race of the Laser World Championship in Melbourne will not be forgotten anytime soon. "I didn't expect Philipp to go through the roof like that. We had trained well here and certainly had a medal in mind, but this performance is simply unbelievable," said Schlonski, once a world-class laser sailor himself. Philipp Buhl's summit storm lasted seven years after winning the first World Cup bronze medal in 2013. Now he has written a chapter of German sailing history with World Cup gold in front of Melbourne Down Under. For the first time in the 46-year World Cup history of the Olympic laser class, which has been held since 1996, a German helmsman has won the title. Buhl has been close several times in his career with World Cup silver in 2015 and the second bronze in 2018. Now he has finally successfully conquered one of the two summits of his dreams. The man from Allgäu remembers the moment of crossing the finish line like this: "It was just a total inner satisfaction."

Philipp Buhl on the World Cup series of his life

Laser World Cup 2020
Laser World Cup 2020

Great trio: World Champion Philipp Buhl with training partner Nik Aaron Willim (r.) And national coach Alex Schlonski

Laser Worlds 2020 off Melbourne
Laser Worlds 2020 off Melbourne

Even on the road as the title hunter, Philipp Buhl was the front runner of the hunted in Australia for a week. He withstood this constant pressure and won his gold by twelve points

Laser Worlds 2020 off Melbourne
Laser Worlds 2020 off Melbourne

Philipp Buhl at the World Cup in Phillip Bay

The 30-year-old from Sonthofen secured his title with an outstanding field of 124 boats from 44 nations with one race to go. In other words, with the impressive series of 4, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 5, 6 and 10, he has already gained the necessary lead over the Australian Matt Wearn, who was runner-up for the third time in a row. With another strong fourth place in the twelfth and final race, Buhl made his World Championship Galdann perfect. In the final statement he was twelve points ahead of Matt Wearn, who congratulated the German rival fairly: "Philipp did a really good job and sailed well. He deserved this title." Third place went to Croatian Tonci Stipanovic.

With his triumph, the successful actor in the German Sailing Team dethroned not only the strong armies of Australian sailors in their home territory, but the entire world elite. The defeated also included Olympic champion Robert Scheidt from Brazil, who couldn't cope with this not only but mainly strong wind series as a result of his comeback last year, had to give up the series due to illness and finished 42nd. Buhl said: "It is an honor to sail in a field with Robert Scheidt. And if there is a little less wind, then he is back in front very quickly. I had a picture of him in my school folder when I was 15 years old stick, then I saw him sailing for the first time, was allowed to compete against him for the first time at some point, and now my name comes on the cup that has nine of his on it. " With the title, Buhl also threw his glove into the Olympic ring. As world champion, he will be strengthened and "a little more relaxed" in his second Olympic regatta in the Japanese area of Enoshim, so he can tick off the botched Olympic premiere in 2016.

Laser Worlds 2020 off Melbourne
Laser Worlds 2020 off Melbourne

Philipp Buhl was in his element in the World Cup area off Melbourne

On the other side of Phillip Bay, which DSV helmsman Buhl not only made his name this Sunday, his sailing friend and NRV club mate Erik Heil cheered with him. Heil had won bronze in the 49er World Championship with Thomas Plößel in the same bay the day before. He had often spoken to Buhl in the past about Tom Slingsby and Nathan Outteridge being their role models. The two Australians won Olympic gold in 2012 - Slingsby in the laser, Outteridge with Iain Jensen in the 49er. The top German sailors are also working for this next summit storm. "I'm far more happy about Buhli's gold than about our bronze medal. That's the thing!" Said Erik Heil in Geelong. Buhl's conclusion: "I've come very close to the title a couple of times. It's incredibly difficult to win. I think that winning a world title is the hardest in the laser class. I'm just happy."

Laser Worlds 2020 off Melbourne
Laser Worlds 2020 off Melbourne

The Australian Matt Wearn: The best strong wind sailor of the 2019 season became vice world champion for the third time in a row

Congratulations for the new king of the laser class on Sunday morning were not only abundant from the beaten competition in the Sandringham Yacht Club; many also came from home. Germany's most successful sailor Jochen Schümann congratulated the new laser world champion from training off Mallorca: "The title is super cool and well deserved. In the wind, he's obviously the best! That will give him confidence for everything else. A good confirmation of continuous work. Now still the next step. We finally have two real medal candidates in the laser and in the 49er again! " NRV managing director Klaus Lahme said: "This is probably the most successful week for the NRV and the NRV Olympic Team with two medals in two days and the world championship title. I am particularly impressed by the sovereignty with which Philipp won this world championship."

Buhl hopes that his success will inspire sailing in this country: "Nobody here believed that we could win. With the medals recently won by Erik Heil and Thomas Plößel at the 49er World Championship this weekend, we are showing what is possible is. " Roland Gäbler, Olympic bronze medal winner in 2000, said: "Only those who have perseverance can achieve great things. Philip's professional attitude and perseverance are exemplary and inspiring." The former ski racer Buhl, who grew up in the Allgäu, learned his trade at the Alpsee-Immenstadt sailing club on the Großer Alpsee from his father Friedel Buhl on a Flying Dutchman. He dedicates the title to his family, his partners and companions: "I feel it is a great privilege to be able to practice competitive sport at this level and to torture myself for success. I thank those who make it possible for me. Above all my father."

Sailing World Championships Aarhus 2018
Sailing World Championships Aarhus 2018

Philipp Buhl and his trainer Alex Schlonski were delighted with the hard-won World Cup bronze medal in Aarhus in 2018. Buhl has now turned bronze into gold

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