Norman Bröckl
Encyclopedia
Norman Bröckl (born August 22, 1986 in Berlin
) is a German
sprint canoer
who has competed since 2003. He won a bronze medal in the K-4 1000 m event on his 22nd birthday at the 2008 Summer Olympics
in Beijing
.
Bröckl enjoyed great success as a junior. At the 2003 Junior World Championships in Komatsu
, Japan he won a K-2 1000 m gold medal (partnering Lieven Spur) and the K-1 500 m silver medal, behind Portugal's Emanuel Silva
. In 2004 he dominated the Junior European Championships, winning three gold medals (K-1 500 m, K-1 1000 m and K-4 500 m).
He was promoted to Germany's senior K-4 crew in 2005. His senior debut, at the European championships in Poznań
, went badly - Bröckl has admitted that he "froze" - and the German crew finished outside the medals in both the 500 m and 1000 m races. They did take the 200 m bronze medal on the last day of the championships, but the German coaches decided that Bröckl was not yet ready for the responsibility of leading the crew from the bow-seat in the (more tactical) longer distance races. He therefore switched seats with the more experienced Lutz Altepost
for the 1000 m races at the world championships in Zagreb
, Croatia. This time there were no nerves and Germany won the K-4 1000 m gold medal. In the 200 m final, with Bröckl leading, they picked up a silver medal.
2006 proved a disappointing season for Bröckl and his teammates. They took the 1000 m bronze medal at the European Championships in Račice
, Czech Republic in July. However at the World Championships in Szeged
, Hungary, the German K4 "Flagschiff" finished outside the medals in all three distances. It was the first time since 1977
that no men's German boat reached the podium. Bröckl and his teammates redeemed themselves the following year at Duisburg
with a gold in the K-4 1000 m event. He would also win a silver in the K-1 4 x 200 m event at the 2009 championships
.
Bröckl is a member of the Pro Sport Berlin club.
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
) is a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
sprint canoer
Canoe racing
This article discusses canoe sprint and canoe marathon, competitive forms of canoeing and kayaking on more or less flat water. Both sports are governed by the International Canoe Federation ....
who has competed since 2003. He won a bronze medal in the K-4 1000 m event on his 22nd birthday at the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
.
Bröckl enjoyed great success as a junior. At the 2003 Junior World Championships in Komatsu
Komatsu, Ishikawa
is a city located in Ishikawa Prefecture in the Hokuriku region of Japan.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 109,285 with a density of 294 persons per km². The total area is 371.13 km²....
, Japan he won a K-2 1000 m gold medal (partnering Lieven Spur) and the K-1 500 m silver medal, behind Portugal's Emanuel Silva
Emanuel Silva
Emanuel Eduardo Pimenta Vieira Silva is a Portuguese sprint canoer. He was born in Braga. A finalist at the 2004 Olympics, he is Portugal's most successful kayak sprinter since the 1980s....
. In 2004 he dominated the Junior European Championships, winning three gold medals (K-1 500 m, K-1 1000 m and K-4 500 m).
He was promoted to Germany's senior K-4 crew in 2005. His senior debut, at the European championships in Poznań
Poznan
Poznań is a city on the Warta river in west-central Poland, with a population of 556,022 in June 2009. It is among the oldest cities in Poland, and was one of the most important centres in the early Polish state, whose first rulers were buried at Poznań's cathedral. It is sometimes claimed to be...
, went badly - Bröckl has admitted that he "froze" - and the German crew finished outside the medals in both the 500 m and 1000 m races. They did take the 200 m bronze medal on the last day of the championships, but the German coaches decided that Bröckl was not yet ready for the responsibility of leading the crew from the bow-seat in the (more tactical) longer distance races. He therefore switched seats with the more experienced Lutz Altepost
Lutz Altepost
Lutz Altepost is a German sprint canoer who has competed since the late 1990s...
for the 1000 m races at the world championships in Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
, Croatia. This time there were no nerves and Germany won the K-4 1000 m gold medal. In the 200 m final, with Bröckl leading, they picked up a silver medal.
2006 proved a disappointing season for Bröckl and his teammates. They took the 1000 m bronze medal at the European Championships in Račice
Racice
Račice is a village in Ústí nad Labem Region, Czech Republic. It is located 8 km northeast of Roudnice nad Labem or 41 km north of Prague and has a population of 308. It is the major rowing and flatwater canoeing venue in the Czech Republic. Račice hosted the 1993 World Rowing...
, Czech Republic in July. However at the World Championships in Szeged
Szeged
' is the third largest city of Hungary, the largest city and regional centre of the Southern Great Plain and the county town of Csongrád county. The University of Szeged is one of the most distinguished universities in Hungary....
, Hungary, the German K4 "Flagschiff" finished outside the medals in all three distances. It was the first time since 1977
1977 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships
The 1977 Canoe Sprint World Championships were held in Sofia, Bulgaria.The men's competition consisted of six Canadian and nine kayak events. Three events were held for the women, all in kayak...
that no men's German boat reached the podium. Bröckl and his teammates redeemed themselves the following year at Duisburg
Duisburg
- History :A legend recorded by Johannes Aventinus holds that Duisburg, was built by the eponymous Tuisto, mythical progenitor of Germans, ca. 2395 BC...
with a gold in the K-4 1000 m event. He would also win a silver in the K-1 4 x 200 m event at the 2009 championships
2009 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships
The 2009 International Canoe Federation Canoe Sprint World Championships were held 12–16 August 2009 in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada, on Lake Banook. The Canadian city was selected to host the championships in October 2003 after having done so previously in 1997...
.
Bröckl is a member of the Pro Sport Berlin club.