A large poster featuring the Olympic rings and the words “Paris, Wir Kommen” stands proudly on display at the Kanu Schwaben Augsburg.
Within each ring is an image of a Canoe Slalom paddler.
Reigning Olympic champion Ricarda Funk and two-time Olympic medallist Sideris Tasiadis occupy the central rings with Elena Lilik, Noah Hegge and Amir Rezanejad Hassanjani sitting in the rings above them.
All five athletes are members of the club and all five will compete at the Paris 2024 Olympics next week.
Proud Kanu Schwaben Augsburg President Hans-Peter Pleitner adds that Italian paddler Stefanie Horn is another representative of his club and will also be heading to the Games.
“It’s a big thing for our club and for the city of Augsburg so we are more than happy,” said Pleitner.
“Now we are hoping that our athletes are successful.”
It is an incredible achievement for one canoe club to produce so many Olympians, but it is not entirely surprising given its history and amazing Canoe Slalom facilities.
Kanu Schwaben Augsburg, located in Bavaria, was founded in 1960 and jointly manages the Eiskanal with Augsburg Kajak-Verein.
The Eiskanal was constructed as the Canoe Slalom venue for the Munich 1972 Olympics, and it has since held the International Canoe Federation Canoe Slalom World Championships in 1985, 2003 and 2022.
Funk is the latest Olympic champion to have learnt their craft at Kanu Schwaben Augsburg before triumphing on the biggest stage.
The club’s other Olympic gold medallists are Elisabeth Micheler-Jones at Barcelona 1992, Oliver Fix at Atlanta 1996 and Thomas Schmidt at Sydney 2000.
Funk, who won women’s kayak single gold at Tokyo 2020, said she moved to Augsburg in 2011 after finishing school.
“I love this place,” said Funk.
“I can’t really remember when I paddled on this course for the first time, but it was a challenge and I didn’t make it at first and I had to swim.
“I was scared of the bridge part and it took a long time to get used to this kind of whitewater.
“When you see this course, we have three different canals in one place and at different levels of difficulties so you can train the basics and on hard whitewater.
“It also has an area where we have a gym so it’s all in one place.”
Tasiadis silver in the men’s canoe single at London 2012 before earning bronze in the event at Tokyo 2020.
“This is my home club and my whole career is because of this place,” said the 34-year-old.
“I love the course here.
“I think it’s like a big family.
“Whether I win or lose, they say ‘come on, you always give your best and we are happy and proud to have you at this club’.”
Rezanejad Hassanjani is the latest success story for Kanu Schwaben Augsburg having sealed a place on the International Olympic Committee’s Refugee Olympic Team in Paris.
After fleeing Iran to seek refuge in Europe, Rezanejad Hassanjani spent time in Turkey before arriving in Augsburg.
Pleitner said the club was happy to assist Rezanejad Hassanjani in achieving his Olympic dream after being informed of the paddler’s situation by ICF President Thomas Konietzko.
“Thomas Konietzko came to me and said there is an Iranian refugee in Augsburg which I also knew,” said Pleitner.
“He said there is a refugee team that we should try to get him in.
“It was a long, hard journey - not sports-wise but administrative-wise to get all the supporting letters.
“We did some calls and finally he was allowed.”
Rezanejad Hassanjani lives a 15-minute bike ride from the Augsburg course where he works under the guidance of the vastly experienced German coach Jurgen Koehler.
“Augsburg is my home,” said Rezanejad Hassanjani.
“I feel good here, the club is like my family as they support me through everything.
“When you have nobody in the city, maybe you feel alone but it is different here.
“The support of the club is motivation for me to progress.”
Pleitner said Kanu Schwaben Augsburg consisted of 550 members with 70 per cent of those aged between 10 and 20 years old.
With so many young paddlers looking to follow in the footsteps of Funk and co, Kanu Schwaben Augsburg’s production line of talent looks set to continue.
“All our Olympians are among us,” said Pleitner.
“You can see them, you can talk to them.
“That is what is important, especially for the kids.
“All our Olympic and world champions are all working as coaches here and give back to the next generation.
“This is what makes the spirit of Kanu Schwaben.
“I always say that if you want to be an Olympic champion in Augsburg you have to be a member of our club.”
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