Tomasz Wylenzek
Encyclopedia
Tomasz Wylenzek (born January 9, 1983 in Nowe Chechło, Silesia
, Poland
) is a German
sprint canoer
who has competed since the early 2000s.
Wylenzek won two junior world championship titles in 2001 at Curitiba
, Brazil. The following year, still only 19, he was promoted to the German senior squad as C-2 partner for the more experienced Christian Gille
. At the 2002 World Championships
in Seville
, they finished seventh in the 500 m final.
At Wylenzek's first Olympics
in Athens
, he and Gille won a surprise gold in the C-2 1000 m
event.
In 2005 Gille and Wylenzek completely dominated the C-2 event, showing that their Athens victory was not a fluke. A clean sweep of medals (200 m, 500 m and 1000 m) at the European Championships in Poznań
, Poland, in May was followed by two golds (500 m and 1000 m) at the World Championships in Zagreb
.
2006 proved a disappointment after the highs of the previous two years. Gille and Wylenzek lost out to Stefan Holtz
and Robert Nuck
in the German C-2 500 m trial and were therefore unable to defend their European and world titles over that distance. Wylenzek was philosophical as they lost their other titles too, coming away with just two silver medals at the major championships (European C-2 1000 m and world C-2 200 m).
Wylenzek won two more Olympic medals at Beijing
in 2008
with a silver in the C-1 1000 m and a bronze in the C-2 500 m events. since those games, he has won two more world championships medals with a gold in 2009
(C-2 1000 m) and a bronze in 2010
(C-4 1000 m).
Wylenzek lives in Essen
. He is 183 cm tall (6 ft 0 in) and weighs 85 kg (187 lbs).
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
) 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 the early 2000s.
Wylenzek won two junior world championship titles in 2001 at Curitiba
Curitiba
Curitiba is the capital of the Brazilian state of Paraná. It is the largest city with the biggest economy of both Paraná and southern Brazil. The population of Curitiba numbers approximately 1.75 million people and the latest GDP figures for the city surpass US$61 billion according to...
, Brazil. The following year, still only 19, he was promoted to the German senior squad as C-2 partner for the more experienced Christian Gille
Christian Gille
Christian Gille is a German flatwater canoer who has competed since the mid 1990s.A junior world champion in 1993, he won two senior world championship gold medals with Thomas Zereske in the C-2 200 m sprint in 1997 and 1998...
. At the 2002 World Championships
2002 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships
The 2002 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships were held in Seville, Spain.The men's competition consisted of nine Canadian and nine kayak events...
in Seville
Seville
Seville is the artistic, historic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia and of the province of Seville. It is situated on the plain of the River Guadalquivir, with an average elevation of above sea level...
, they finished seventh in the 500 m final.
At Wylenzek's first Olympics
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, he and Gille won a surprise gold in the C-2 1000 m
Canoeing at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Men's C-2 1000 metres
These are the results of the men's C-2 1000 metres competition in canoeing at the 2004 Summer Olympics. The C-2 event is raced by two-man sprint canoes.-Medalists:-Heats:...
event.
In 2005 Gille and Wylenzek completely dominated the C-2 event, showing that their Athens victory was not a fluke. A clean sweep of medals (200 m, 500 m and 1000 m) 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...
, Poland, in May was followed by two golds (500 m and 1000 m) 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...
.
2006 proved a disappointment after the highs of the previous two years. Gille and Wylenzek lost out to Stefan Holtz
Stefan Holtz
Stefan Holtz is a German sprint canoer who has competed since 2004. He won seven medals at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships with two golds , three silvers , and two bronzes .-References:***...
and Robert Nuck
Robert Nuck
Robert Nuck is a German sprint canoer who has competed since 2004. He won seven medals at the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships with two golds , three silvers , and two bronzes .-References:***...
in the German C-2 500 m trial and were therefore unable to defend their European and world titles over that distance. Wylenzek was philosophical as they lost their other titles too, coming away with just two silver medals at the major championships (European C-2 1000 m and world C-2 200 m).
Wylenzek won two more Olympic medals at 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...
in 2008
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...
with a silver in the C-1 1000 m and a bronze in the C-2 500 m events. since those games, he has won two more world championships medals with a gold in 2009
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...
(C-2 1000 m) and a bronze in 2010
2010 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships
The 2010 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships were held 19–22 August 2010 in Poznań, Poland, on Lake Malta. This is the third time that the Polish city will host the championships, having done so previously in 1990 and 2001...
(C-4 1000 m).
Wylenzek lives in Essen
Essen
- Origin of the name :In German-speaking countries, the name of the city Essen often causes confusion as to its origins, because it is commonly known as the German infinitive of the verb for the act of eating, and/or the German noun for food. Although scholars still dispute the interpretation of...
. He is 183 cm tall (6 ft 0 in) and weighs 85 kg (187 lbs).