2009 SU Update: German Champions win Gold in Athletics

Ariane Friedrich jumps to gold

Nico Sperle, the President of ADH, the German member association of FISU can’t be happier. 2007 World Champion Betty Heidler broke the hammer throw Universiade Record winning gold and European High Jump Champion Ariane Friedrich also delivered and came close to jumper another Universiade Record.

Before flying to Belgrade, Betty Heidler was talking about her ambitions for this athletics’ season: “My aims for this summer are to win the Summer Universiade as well as the World Championship in Berlin. I am looking forward to starting in Belgrade as my friends told me that Universiades have a very high international level but are also very joyful events.” Betty Heidler had the first opportunity to participate at a Summer Universiade this year because she started her studies last autumn.

For Heidler, the German World Champion in Hammer Throw, the first attempt in Belgrade was a complete success: she threw 75.83 meters, broke Michaela Melinte’s Universiade-Record of 1999, got a new season’s best and won gold. With this medal the 25 years old law-student of Frankfurt/Main reached her first big aim for this summer. Heidler and her trainer, Michael Deyhle, had big smiles on their faces after the competition: “We are very happy about this result and we reached our aim exactly. This was a very important competition before starting in Berlin”, they explained.

Another happy face in the Red Star Stadium in Belgrade, Friedrichs coach Günther Eisinger nsaid: “We are very happy about this big success of Julia Wanner (silver in high jump) and Ariane Friedrich. Although the wind in the stadium was very strong they both did their very best. Perhaps Ariane can break the Universiade Record next time – it’s always good to rise to new challenges.”

Friedrich and Wanner: gold and silver in the women’s high jump

Betty Heidler, gold and a Universiade Record in hammer throw