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Gold in shot put and silver in swimming – Mayor Benz praises strong result
The team from the city of Darmstadt impressed with strong performances at this year's International School Games in Tallinn, Estonia. Eighteen athletes competed in swimming, athletics, and beach volleyball, bringing home one gold and one silver medal.
“Gold and silver in swimming and shot put are a fantastic result and further proof of the high level of performance of the athletes in our city,” said Mayor and Head of Sports Hanno Benz. “The Games offered ideal conditions for top athletic performances and intercultural exchange.”
Successes in swimming and athletics
Swimmer Tom Howorka (DSW Darmstadt) particularly shone, winning silver in the 50-meter freestyle final. He also finished fourth in the 100-meter freestyle. Niklas Burk (TuS Griesheim) came in fifth in the 50-meter breaststroke with a personal best time. Fabio Lanucara (DSW Darmstadt), Lisa Schader and Merle Carlotta Knapp (both VFS Rödermark), and Neele Feline Schwebel (SG Frankfurt) also delivered strong performances.
In athletics, Emmy Pfouga (asc Darmstadt) won the gold medal in the shot put with a throw of 12.98 meters. Her teammate Marlo Friedrich finished fifth in the javelin throw. The girls' 4x100-meter relay team reached the final and finished eighth.
Premiere in beach volleyball
For the first time, Darmstadt also fielded beach volleyball teams. The boys started with a victory against Kecskemét (Hungary), but were eliminated after losses against Los Angeles and Hamilton (Canada). The girls celebrated a win against Murska Sobota (Slovenia) and narrowly missed a better ranking in a thrilling three-set match against Alkmaar (Netherlands).
Sporting successes and intercultural encounters
Besides the competitions, the focus was on encounters and culture. An interview with the German embassy, a boat trip along the coast, and a visit to the beach rounded out the program. Mayor Barbara Akdeniz supported the team on site. In total, around 1,000 young people from over 70 cities worldwide participated in the games.
The next International School Games will take place in Hualien, Taiwan in August 2026.
(DARMSTADT – RED/PSD/dk)
