Linus Bange: Potsdam's sports star with big Olympic dreams!

Linus Bange: Potsdam's sports star with big Olympic dreams!

At this year's sports reception at the University of Potsdam, Linus Bange, a 21-year-old law student, was awarded the young talent award from the sports chapter of the Universitätsgesellschaft Potsdam e.V. This honor not only recognizes his sporting successes, but also serves as an important form of support for top student athletes on their path to a dual career. According to information from uni-potsdam.de Around 150 guests took part in the event, including around 60 athletes.

Linus Bange, who is active at the Potsdam Canoe Club, has impressive sporting achievements. He won two world championship titles in the K4 and K2 over 500 meters at the 2024 Canoe World Championships in Plovdiv and was also champion in the kayak single sculls at the 2023 Junior and U23 World Championships in Auronzo, Italy. Bange is determined to qualify for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Joint event and honors

The sports reception was organized jointly for the first time by the University of Potsdam, the Potsdam University of Applied Sciences and the Potsdam University of Applied Sciences for Sport and Management. The well-wishers included high-ranking personalities such as Benjamin Schenk, Secretary General of the adh, and Prof. Oliver Günther, President of the University of Potsdam. As part of the event, the compatibility of top-class sport and studies was discussed, with medals already achieved by students at the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris being highlighted.

Linus Bange, who originally comes from Ingolstadt, started canoeing in third grade. His mother discovered an open day at the canoe club, which motivated the young athlete. He pursued an educational career focused on sports and attended the Zeppelin primary school and the sports school in Potsdam. In 2023 he successfully completed his school education with a high school average of 1.7.

The dual career and digital support

The challenges of the double burden of sport and studies are known to all dual athletes. The German Olympic Sports Confederation has recognized that a flexible design of study periods is essential so that athletes can successfully take part in competitions. Therefore, individual certificates are offered to document the commitment and achievements in sport and training. This not only helps when applying for university places, but also when combining competitive sports and an academic career.

The evening of the sports reception not only offered a platform for professional exchange, but also a family atmosphere, as Dr. Petra Bischoff-Krenzien, head of the Center for University Sports, stated. Digital teaching is seen as a support for athletes in combining intensive training with the requirements of their studies.

Like Bange, who undergoes constant training under the guidance of world champion Lutz Altepost, many athletes are striving for the next big goals, which include the European Championships, World Championships and ultimately the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Despite the challenges associated with coordinating studies and high-performance sport, motivation remains high.

At a time when competition in sport is growing and young athletes are under great demand, Linus Bange's award shows that commitment and willingness to perform can also pay off in the academic area. The path to the top not only requires talent, but also strong organization and support in order to meet the demands of top-class sport.