Photo: Malou Schmidt
University of Duisburg-Essen is German University Champion Mixed 8s
Essen, Baldeneysee, February 28, 2026. A thrilling day of competition, a vibrant hall, brilliant performances – the 2026 German University Championships (DHM) in indoor rowing in Düsseldorf offered all this and more. On February 28, the triple hall of Heinrich Heine University was transformed into a bubbling cauldron of excitement, organized by University Sports Düsseldorf together with the Germania Düsseldorf Rowing Club. Races in all classes were on the program, from explosive sprint distances to tactically driven team competitions – and each one was fueled by a boisterous crowd that turned the hall into a sea of cheers. In the final race, one of the highlights of the event, the University of Duisburg -Essen came out on top. Also in the boat: female students who train on the Ruhr River. Baldeneysee.
Sports hall becomes indoor arena
Upon entering the hall, it was clear that this would be no ordinary university competition. A DJ provided driving beats, a lighting system bathed the hall in pulsating colors, and the spectators transformed the setting into a vibrant wall of pure energy. The atmosphere became particularly intense once the major team races began – the eight-person events, the highlight of the day.
8-car race: Maximum excitement over 350 meters
Eight athletes side by side, each on a Concept2 ergometer, all united by the same rhythm, the same will, the same pain – the 8-person races were the moment when the hall practically shook. The 350-meter distance sounds short, but it demands everything: speed, power, precision, timing, and mental toughness. In the final mixed 8-person race, one of the day's highlights, six teams competed against each other in three heats. Two teams at a time battled head-to-head. After two heats, the University of Duisburg-Essen was in the lead – but everything was still up for grabs. The third heat brought the decision. The hall erupted, the spectators screamed, the athletes tugged at the handles as if their lives depended on it. And in the end, the University of Duisburg-Essen team prevailed. A triumph that felt like a liberation.
The new German University Champions in Mixed 8s 2026
| Winning team of the German University Indoor Rowing Championships 2026 in Düsseldorf | |
|---|---|
| Number of female and male athletes | 8 |
| Team member | Koko Killman |
| Team member | Louisa Heinermann |
| Team member | Marie Arend |
| Team member | Kim Krüger |
| Team member | Sami Wainwright |
| Team member | Aaron Maier |
| Team member | Jan Schüren |
| Team member | Matthias Keulen |
All information is provided without guarantee.
Three of the athletes – Killmann (Essen Werdener Rowing Club of 1896 – EWRC), Arend (Essen Gymnastics and Fencing Club – ETuF), and Kim Krüger (Kettwig Rowing Club – KRG) – train on the Ruhr River and the Baldeneysee, Essen's traditional rowing waters. There, where morning mist hangs over the water and the boats glide silently across the mirror-like surface, the foundation for this success was laid. The Baldeneysee is not just a training facility, but a place where performance and passion converge – and this very blend was reflected in the Düsseldorf final.
Conclusion
The 2026 German University Championships in indoor rowing were more than just a competition. They celebrated university sports, a place where students not only learn together but also spur each other on to peak performance. The sporting event is a testament to the power of collective effort and an experience that captivated athletes and spectators alike. Düsseldorf, as host, showed its best side – warmly Rhineland, passionate about sports, and for one day the center of university sports in Germany. Baldeneysee.Ruhr extends its warmest congratulations to all the 2026 German University Champions in indoor rowing!
