Germany’s Gordan Harbrecht talks about his nickname, his family life and his ambition for another Canoe Ocean Racing world title in our series of big interviews with paddlers during the off-season.
Just like comic-strip space hero Flash Gordon, Germany’s Gordan Harbrecht is a man on a mission.
Nicknamed “Flash Gordan” after the iconic science fiction character, Harbrecht is not somebody who enjoys resting on their laurels.
While some paddlers may choose to put their feet up after a long, hard season, Herbrecht just keeps paddling.
“I am not a big off-season fan, probably because I enjoy kayaking,” said Harbrecht.
“I make sure that I don’t train too hard, so I basically don’t need to stop at a certain time to let my body recover.”
Harbrecht says life has changed since the arrival of his son and daughter, now aged two and five respectively.
But Harbrecht insists that he is still keen to keep him and his young family active in between races and training having recently spent time on the Swiss snow where his kids got their first experiences on skis.
“I enjoy an active lifestyle,” said Harbrecht.
View this post on Instagram
“One of my favourites is to take my family out for short weekend trips with the camper van along the beautiful coastline of the Baltic Sea.
“Before kids I enjoyed all kind of watersports, bicycling and fishing.
“Now I am definitely less flexible, but I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
Harbrecht said he got the “Flash Gordan” nickname from Jürgen Brinks, the man who helped to transfer him from sprint kayaking to ocean paddling.
It is a moniker that has grown on Harbrecht over the years, and he says it is in “recognition of my speed and I wear it with pride”.
In the comic-strip series, Flash Gordon was dubbed “King of the Impossible” as he constantly fought against evil.
Harbrecht produced his own heroic act last year when he did what no other man from Europe had achieved before.
Ever since the International Canoe Federation Canoe Ocean Racing World Championships had been inaugurated in 2013, only men from Australia and South Africa had captured the senior surfski title.
That was the case until Germany’s Harbrecht swooped in to seal top spot in Madeira, Portugal last year.
“My goal was a top placement at the World Championship,” said Harbrecht.
“Winning the title was an overwhelming feeling and the culmination of years of hard work and dedication to the sport.”
Harbrecht achieved his career high in Canoe Ocean Racing with that world title, but the German paddler is not finished there as he strives for more surfski success.
“Reaching this level is the result of years of consistency,” said Harbrecht.
“I don’t see it in a way that I need to face a lot sacrifices.
“I do enjoy my lifestyle.
“Actually, being an athlete and building my whole life around the sport I love most is probably the key to my success.
“Of course, my time is limited in terms of leisure time and social activities outside the sport.
“But you must give up on something, decide what you want in life.
“In Germany, we say, ‘ganz oder gar nicht’.”
In English, that translates as “completely or not at all”.
Harbrecht will now use that mindset as he prepares for the ICF Canoe Ocean Racing World Championships, due to be held from October 17 to 19 in Durban, South Africa.
“I aim to defend my title later in Durban this year and I want to improve my personal bests,” added Harbrecht.
“Additionally, I want to use my experience to further promote the surfski sport in Germany and support other athletes.
“Together with my team at Nordic Kayaks we are already working on exciting projects which I can’t wait to share with the community.”
Related links
