Sport Austria Finals: surprises and wins by favorites
Second day of competition at the Sport Austria Finals powered by Intersport & Holding Graz. Diver Dariush Lotfi buys the World Cup ticket on the 1-meter board. Christine Seehofer and Christoph Krenn awaken memories of Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf in the Racket Sport Center. Daniel Federspiel's victory in the Mountain Bike Eliminator is very special in many ways. Like Melissa Naschenweng's appearances at the awards ceremony on Graz's main square.
MOUNTAIN BIKE
Gold followed silver! Laura Stigger showed a strong performance in the Eliminator decision, showed off her sprint qualities on the XCE track in Stattegg and celebrated a sovereign success. Corina Druml from Carinthia and Cornelia Holland from Lower Austria followed in second and third place. “It was always clear to me that I really wanted to drive the Eliminator in the finals. I was focused and really wanted to win this title. It was the lactate party I had hoped for and an additional motivation for my Olympic countdown, ”said the Tyrolean who was nominated for Tokyo by the Austrian Cycling Association last week.
There was also a Tyrolean success with the men: Daniel Federspiel celebrated his first victory in the blue dress less than 24 hours after signing for the Felbermayr-Simplon Wels team. And his eighth championship jersey in the Eliminator. The two-time world and European champion from the Ötztal prevailed against local hero and defending champion Theo Hauser and Kilian Feurstein from Vorarlberg. “I drove my last Eliminator race in 2018 and didn't know where I was. But from the first heat I found the rhythm really well and the final was then simply 'all in' with the perfect ending, ”said“ Feder ”himself most of all.
Because: “I only competed in one race this year because I opened a bike shop with a café and actually hardly got any training. But then I noticed that I still need cycling and I can't stop yet, ”he now wants to be successful on the road. “I still have a few bills open. Let's see what is still possible this season. "
BASKETBALL
When the decisive throw fell, the jubilation on the playing field in the “Thunderdome” on Graz's main square knew no bounds. Players lay in each other's arms, let their joy run wild. With loud support from the boxes on the left and right of the court. The 3 × 3 basketball players from DBB LZ Oberösterreich ended the final prematurely, defeating the U18s from BK Duchess Klosterneuburg in the final 21:14. "We struggled in the first game against her, but we shot her away in the final," said Anna Alborova happily, who was also voted MVP, the most valuable player.
With the trophy in hand and the medal around my neck, it was also easier to get over the fact that not all games could be won at the Sport Austria Finals. "Unfortunately we didn't become unbeaten champions, but we didn't let the defeat against the Timberwolves bother us and we continued to give 100 percent." And so we won the title as a team. Like this year in 5 × 5 basketball. The boys from BK IMMOUnited Klosterneuburg had already succeeded in doing the same. What will remain with the young Wels hopes besides titles and precious metals? "The location was amazing, the atmosphere was great - everything was just right!"
ORIENTATION RUN
The sprint decision was made on Friday at the Orienteering State Championship as part of the Sport Austria Finals. The route was the stark contrast to the steep relay route in the forest. This time a flat, extremely fast street circuit was waiting for more than 550 athletes. 3,6 kilometers and 32 posts had to be run for the men, the women completed 3,5 kilometers with 29 posts.
In the elite classes, it was almost exclusively Austria's European Championship starters who competed for the title among themselves. In the men's race, Jannis Bonek (Naturfreunde Wien) won in a time of 12:38 minutes, 16 seconds ahead of Robert Merl (ASKÖ Henndorf Orienteering), who crossed the finish line 1 second ahead of third-placed Matthias Peter.
Somewhat surprisingly, Anna Simkovics (OLC Wienerwald) prevailed in the women in 14:14 minutes ahead of the two Viennese Naturfreunde athletes Anika Gassner (+ 13 seconds) and Yivi Kastner (+17). The big favorite Laura Ramstein had to be content with fourth place, 20 seconds behind the fastest time.
JUMPING WATER
On Friday it was again for medals in the outdoor area of the Graz oyster in diving. Dariusz Lotfi (GAK Diving), who had won bronze from the 3 m board the day before, not only crowned himself national champion from the 1 m board, but also undercut the required World Cup limit. The local hero from Graz prevailed with 346,20 points ahead of Nikolaj Schaller (306,55 points) from the Vienna Swimming Union. Schaller's club colleague Alexander Hart completed the podium in third place with 300,90 points.
“Today I was much better than yesterday. One or two small mistakes crept in on Thursday, you can tell immediately. If you look at both competitions, it was still a very solid competition for me - you can build on that. After I also reached the World Cup limit, it was his very successful day, ”said Lotfi, happy about the home win.
In the women’s category, Cara Albiez (GAK Diving) followed suit after the title from the 3m board and won again in a sovereign manner. With a remarkable 195,25 points, the 15-year-old diver prevailed over her teammates Annika Meusburger (180,95 points) and Olivia Meusburger (161,55 points).
For both women and men, only one pair competed in the synchronized competition from the 3 m board. Nikolaj Schaller and Alexander Hart scored 333,57 points for men, while Annika and Olivia Meusburger scored 185,85 points for women.
FENCING
Big surprise at the women's state epee championship. And there was a big surprise: Leonore Praxmarer secured her first national title and shone with the gold medal. After a thrilling fight, the 18-year-old athlete from FUL Linz narrowly prevailed ahead of Anna Lea Zerlauth (FTSJD). Agath Thordis from KAC Klagenfurt completed the top 3 after a solid performance.
“It was really an unexpected, but very hard-won experience for me. I'm really overwhelmed, really speechless, "Praxmarer smiled and added:" The preliminary round went really well for me, I had to fight hard for the first direct duel. Then came the hardest part. I quickly realized that something was going on today! It is really an unbelievable feeling when you can create and experience something like this. The title is a great honor for me. "
The first title is extremely important for the 18-year-old athlete and gives a good boost for the tasks ahead. After all, Praxmarer wants to continuously improve and be successful on the international stage through hard training. “If I have a good day and find the right motivation, a lot is possible. Today's competition showed me that. I want to take the momentum with me and also do well at the Austrian junior championships and at the upcoming international tournament in Poland. "
SPORTS ACROBATICS
Austria's gymnastics association has successfully completed the first of 3 title fights in the finals. Sports acrobatics has 2 new elite master formations: Hanna Reiter and Jan Wassermann from Graz as well as Lena Meinhard, Pia Wagner and Sophie Koll from Dobersberg in the Waldviertel. A total of 10 limits for the EM in autumn were confirmed or newly set. Proof of the increasing sporting level, a very strong comeback after the long lockdown!
Leonor Vareta, Austria's Portuguese national coach: “We have two particularly intense days behind us, which were also the last, very positive test for our team before the World Cup and Junior World Cup in Geneva at the end of this month. 95 percent of the exercises our cadre did with excellent results. It was a brilliant championship with great emotions. "
SPORT AEROBICS
Second title for Lea Robl! The Linzer, national champion 2019 and runner-up in 2020, prevailed in a close title fight against last year's third Paula Moser (Tyrol). With a score of 19.250 points, a single tenth of a point difference was decisive. Viktoria Brandl from Linz secured bronze with 18.650 points.
State champion Lea Robl analyzed after the competition: “It was of course my goal to win again. But I knew that it would be very difficult for me. So I'm really happy that it ended up being so close. I really had to show everything I can. Because Paula also showed a great performance that would have been absolutely masterful. "
ROPE SKIPPING
On Friday, the rope skipping athletes thrilled at the start of their first independent Austrian championship in the Liebenauer Bluebox with a lot of speed, precision and acrobatics. Hannah Göttfert (SV Gymnastics Gänserndorf) and Florian Blümel won the titles in the elite classes after three disciplines (speed 30 and 180 seconds, freestyle).
“Today it was incredibly cool to finally see everyone again and to push each other in the competition was really terrific. For me it was an emotional victory, I was really touched and close to tears, ”said Blümel enthusiastically.
ULTIMATE FRISBEE
Everyone is chasing Catchup Graz! But the defending champions in the Ultimate Frisbee did not show any nakedness at the start of the pool phase. From the early afternoon onwards, games were played on the training grounds in the Graz-Weinzödl sports center. 12 matches were held. "Everyone was really happy that it finally started again - we had to wait a long time for this restart," reports organizer Andreas Kuhn. No wonder, since it is the first Ultimate Frisbee tournament in more than 16 months.
The Grazers are on course to defend their title, but the strongest teams from past days are almost without exception in top form at the Sport Austria Finals. The pool phase will be concluded on Saturday, the two group winners will advance directly to the semifinals, the other tickets will be awarded in so-called backdoor games. On Sunday both semifinals, the game for 3rd place and the grand final in the GAK Stadium will be on www.sportpassaustria.at streamed live.
FOOT VOLLEY
Up your leg. Higher. Footvolley. Spectacular rallies, flying people and a summer backdrop. "The start of the tournament couldn't have been better," said the organizer Benedikt Hofmann-Wellenhof, delighted at the end of the day about more than 40 matches on Auster Beach, directly at the Eggenberger Bad. Women, men, mixed, all came together to secure one of the coveted places in the knockout phase. "The level was high, there were many close games - an exciting final day is guaranteed!" www.sportpassaustria.at transfer!
CYCLING
The cycling criterion in Gössendorf was a clear issue for the home team! Valentin Götzinger from the WSA KTM Graz ARBÖ team won the Austrian championship title with a start-finish victory. Already after the first 2 of 24 3,5 km laps, the Styrian and his teammate Daniel Auer grabbed the first points assessment and dictated the race to the finish line.
“This criterion title is a very special story and is very, very important to me. It was a long way back after illnesses and injuries, ”said Götzinger, who had already won the street title. “We knew that we were doomed to win at home, so our tactic was clear that we would give gas as a double lead right from the start. Thanks to my team-mate Daniel Auer! ”He also took third place behind Götzinger, third was Andreas Graf (Lower Austria, ARBÖ RC Sparkasse Pernitz).
CHESS
Impressive ambience in the Stefaniensaal of the Graz Congress, impressive achievements of the quick thinkers. Austria's number 1 Markus Ragger (the Carinthian is the best German-speaking player in the world rankings in 56th place), as expected, is ahead after the first 3 rounds of the State Rapid Chess Championship. The Grazer by choice has a lead of 96 points in the 9 participants (87 women, 3 men) and the best time evaluation.
Five players are tied with Ragger: Schreiner, Schwabeneder, Schroll, Enöckl and Perhinig. The best woman is Annika Fröwis, followed by Anna-Christian Ragger and Barbara Teuschler. On Friday, the title decision in rapid chess (5 minutes fixed time, plus 15 seconds per move) will be made in a further 10 rounds. The title fights in blitz chess will start on Sunday from 6 a.m.
RACKETLON
After the Juniors Day, the Racketlon aces took over the command in Graz on Friday - with a real day of the big fight: women, men and mixed teams determined their double champions. There was tension right up to the very last point in the mixed decision, in which Martina Meißl and Michael Dickert had a golden hand and Emanuel Schöpf / Irina Olsacher the rubber arm. Because after the 4 disciplines both teams were equal on points, so one last ball, the so-called rubber hand, had to decide.
“It was exciting from the beginning to the better end for us,” said local hero Meißl, who was also impressed by the award ceremony setting on Graz's main square. “The finals were really cool, a great stage for so many different sports.” The Gleisdorf native was allowed to go to the main stage a second time on Friday evening, as she and her partner Bettina Bugl also won the women's competition.
The men's doubles were a clear affair: the two Tyroleans Bernhard Pilsz and Emanuel Schöpf, who also won mixed silver, made short work of Leon Sam / Stefan Urban, decided the game for gold in three disciplines and were able to win for the third time in a row, hang the master's medal around your neck.
PADEL
At the mixed state championships, the two padel aces Christoph Krenn and Christine Seehofer lived up to their favorite position. In the Racketsportcenter Graz, the duo from Vienna secured the title with a clear final victory against Florian Kiefer and Rebecca Niederacher. The second in a row for Seehofer and Krenn after the state championship premiere last year.
Like the former tennis stars Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf, Krenn and Seehofer also form a double privately and are used to the number 1 position in the world rankings. Seehofer is number 1 in Racketlon worldwide, and Krenn was this for many years until he retired from Racketlon.
COED SLOW PITCH SOFTBALL
The COED Slowpitch Mixed variant went into the second round on Friday. The Linz Witches & Bandits are still the measure of all things, fixed first place early after the regular round - even if the last two games are still played on Saturday morning.
Rainer Husty, President of the Austrian Baseball Softball Federation, summed up enthusiastically after day 2: “The place here in Graz is terrific - we are considering whether we should hold our championships here regularly in the future. The Linz Witches & Bandits are well on their way to successfully defending their title. But the other teams also ensure a good, high-quality championship with their performance. "
All information, news and results from the Sport Austria Finals powered by Intersport & Holding Graz can be found online at www.sportaustriafinals.at - The live streams of the title decisions are collected on www.sportpassaustria.at!
