When Anton Winkelmann got into Germany’s coveted kayak four boat for the first time, he felt the weight of history.
Winkelmann not only sees Max Rendschmidt, Max Lemke and Jacob Schopf as fellow athletes and now K4 team-mates but the 10 Olympic medals they have accumulated – nine of those being gold.
It was a daunting prospect for the 22-year-old paddler who secured his place in the boat after winning the national selections.
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Winkelmann overcame all his nerves to help Germany win their opening race of the International Canoe Federation Canoe Sprint World Cup season, sealing top spot in the men’s K4 500m heats to advance to the final in Szeged.
“It was quite frightening to get involved because there are nine Olympic gold medals and one silver medal so there is a lot of history with those guys,” said Winkelmann.
“You feel it when you paddle with them.
“You also feel the difference when in training and in competition.”
Winkelmann has previously enjoyed success on the global stage, securing bronze in the men’s kayak double 1000m with Leonard Busch at the 2022 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships.
Born in Berlin, Winkelmann also represented Germany in the men’s kayak single 1000m at the Olympic Games in Paris.
Winkelmann took the place of Tom Liebscher-Lucz who has played a key role in guiding Germany to three successive K4 golds at the Olympic Games.
Rendschmidt, who has also been part of all three of those triumphant teams, welcomed the arrival of Winkelmann.
“We have three old guys and one new,” said Rendschmidt.
“I have been lucky to have these three boys at the back and hopefully the final will be good tomorrow.”
Schopf described Winkelmann as the “new engine” in the German juggernaut as it rolls into the 2025 season.
“He’s a really tough guy,” said Schopf.
“He trains a lot.
“It is always good to see young guys in the field so I think we can be really happy that we have these young talents in Germany.
“It’s really nice.”
Lemke added: “We have a new guy in the back now.
“He won our selection in the 500m so we are looking forward to trying to race with him.
“Obviously it was not something we had tried before as we only had one week’s preparation but after the first heat we have a really good feeling and we are looking forward to the final tomorrow and continue the journey we had in the last eight years in our K4.”
Winkelmann will hope to be part of the team that will aim to defend their world title in Milan this year and retain their Olympic crown in Los Angeles in three years’ time.
But Winkelmann insists he is not looking too far ahead as he tries to establish himself in the boat.
“I was first place in our national ranking so I knew I would get in the boat,” said Winkelmann.
“I have a bit of movement in the boat so they thought it might not work but it works pretty good with those guys.
“We have had a lot of internal races where we measured times and our boat was the fastest.
“We have to perform now so we qualify for Milan.
“We have to perform every year but as long as we stay as the fastest K4 we will go (to the Olympic Games).
“Obviously, it’s the goal for every athlete to go to the Olympic and a dream to win a gold medal but at the moment I don’t think about it.
“I know there is a good chance that we are successful in this K4 so I am excited but I try not to think about it, just go step by step.”
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