Christoph Seefeld from rottenbach finished sixth at the european championships in powerlifting. Actually, the 37-year-old was not scheduled as one of two german starters in his weight category (up to 120 kg), but since one athlete voluntarily switched to the next lighter category, the way to the international parquet was clear. "I have already participated in the western european championships, but that was a few numbers rougher", says seefeld, who sighted several camera teams for print, radio and television at the competitions in pilsen, czech republic.
Seefeld was satisfied with his performance on the whole. "I was 80 kilos behind the fifth-place finisher, but I've only been printing the 900 for half a year, explained the brandenburg native, who lifted 345 kilograms in the squat, 280 in the bench press and 300 in the deadlift (total: 925). His best performance is 950 and earned him the A standard, which even entitles him to take part in the world championships in sweden in november. The medals in his weight class were won by a briton, a russian and a ukrainian.
In the national rankings, germany just missed the podium with fourth place – also because seefeld's weight class colleague was disqualified for three failed attempts in one discipline. "The judges were quite strict, reports the 37-year-old, who ten years ago was running around the soccer field with half the body mass he has today. In the meantime, he has won the bavarian powerlifting championship for the fifth time in a row.
Seefeld and his wife and daughter had already traveled to the west of the czech republic for his european championship debut two days before the start of his mission. "I tried to relax in the hotel pool, but the nerves were pretty raw," he says, he admits. While the family used the short vacation for shopping, the father cheered on the german athletes of the other weight classes on his day off.
With his club from oberolsbach, the bundesliga final is on the agenda. "Since some of us were at the EM, we do not expect too much. At my age, regeneration takes a little longer", says seefeld with a smile. That's why his physiotherapists from rettberg-gmbh in rottenbach have to lend a hand just like before every competition.