DHM apparatus gymnastics in Munich

Three times in the past decade the Karlsruhe Kings had hosted the German University Championships in Artistic Gymnastics (2011/15/18), and each time the traditionally Dirndl- and Lederhosen-clad delegation of the WG Munich had provided the largest block of guests to be entertained and accommodated. Accordingly overdue was the return visit, which a plentiful half hundred gymnastics-enthusiastic Fächerstädter of 14-16 June accomplished. The engagement of chairman Lina Hirschoff announced to the departure (05:37 o'clock) contributed the their to the fact that already at 05:45 o'clock the first champagne bottle was present only air-filled.

With well oiled throats, the otherwise still quite empty ranks cheered the exercises of the other teams in the first round, before it went around noon also for the own troop to the start. After a mediocre start on the unloved pommel horse, the men's team improved considerably and in the end narrowly missed the podium in fourth place. The Karlsruhe queens climbed the podium a little later (3rd place). Without the foot injury of last year's third Maike Roll and the resulting quasi-total loss of the best gymnast in Baden, there would have been more to come.

The evening "Balea Open" on the other hand was dominated unchallenged. A big praise goes here to the Munich organization team, which on the one hand managed the logistical feat of accommodating virtually all university teams (>500 participants!) in a hall complex within walking distance of the competition site, and on the other hand engaged a security that always found the balance between necessary security and possible freedom of movement. The manageable collateral damage could be sewn up with two stitches...

In the ADH Cup on the following day, the men from Karlsruhe had the better end for themselves: In contrast to the DHM team, they were able to lay the foundation for a place on the podium right at the starting apparatus on pommel horse. After a completely messed up uneven bars performance, the ladies were unfortunately unable to make it to the podium regions, but nevertheless (or perhaps because of this) had the most frenetic support in the final floor routine.

After a short break, the sporting highlight was the evening DHM apparatus finals, where Marvin Rauprich on vault (5th place) and Alina Babajan on balance beam (6th place) once again caused euphoria on the Karlsruhe side. Especially the chants for Alina, which were inspired by the "Scatman", made the well-mannered competition moderator discreetly ask how loud it would have been if she had won.

At the nightly pasta party, even a disproportion between the temperature of the beer and the sauce only briefly caused a slight drop in spirits: In a more than worthy location, including a spontaneously declared swimming opportunity above the roofs of the Bavarian capital (congratulations to the TU Dresden for the clear pool sovereignty!), the party went on until the resumption of public transport service in the morning.

We thank all participants for an all-around successful DHM and wish all hepatocytes a prompt complete regeneration!