FS Swimming Shines in Hanover

At the 2026 German University Championships (DHM) in swimming, held in Hanover, Frankfurt School swimming initiative competed with a record-sized team. Thanks to intensive preparation, strong team spirit, and outstanding individual performances, we not only gained valuable competition experience but also achieved major sporting highlights, including one gold and one silver medal, along with many other impressive results.

A Record Team and Strong Preparation

This year, we competed in the DHM in Hanover at the end of May 2026 with an exceptionally large team of 18 members. Just four years ago, I was the only participant.

Our participation only became possible through our recent membership in the German University Sports Association (ADH), facilitated by our Community Manager, and financial support from the Förderverein.

Another key success factor was our training camp, which ensured we arrived in Hanover in peak condition. This intensive preparation not only improved our athletic performance but also significantly strengthened team cohesion.

We are especially proud of our diverse team, in which every member contributed. The team included:

Robin Schmutz, Julia Wameling, Simon Schleicher, Oliver Eckard, Jan Schacht, Vivien Michelle Novy, David Vandenhirtz, Jonas Knost, Kaya Kakmaci, Odysseas Karaspyros, Adrian Nikolov, Simon Qin, Giuseppe Fuer, Adrian Orlemann, Yannick Saenger, Niklas Pschibl, Lalitha Kavya Chitrapu, and Carolina Kohlmann Garcia.

Everyone gained valuable competition experience and contributed to the team’s strong overall performance.

Broad Participation in Individual and Relay Events

This year, we took part in a total of eight relay events, including both traditional gender-specific relays and mixed relays where men and women compete together.

This represents a significant improvement compared to previous years and reflects our growing team size and depth of performance.

We were also strongly represented in individual events, covering nearly the entire championship program. Frankfurt School competed in 55 individual starts, including events such as:

• 100 m freestyle
• 50 m backstroke
• 200 m butterfly
• 50 m butterfly
• 200 m medley

as well as additional distances across the different swimming disciplines.

Competition Highlights and Personal Achievements

The standout performance of the championships came from David Vandenhirtz, who won first place in the 200 m individual medley, earning the title of German University Champion. He also impressed in the 200 m butterfly, where he secured second place.

Niklas Pschibl also delivered a remarkable performance, reaching the final in the 50 m backstroke and finishing with a strong 5th place. Robin Schmutz likewise performed well in the 200 m individual medley, finishing in 9th place.

Overall, the team demonstrated impressive depth in performance:

• 5 finishes in the top 10
• 6 finishes in the top 20

It is particularly noteworthy that our swimmers competed successfully in highly competitive fields, with some events featuring between 100 and 140 participants.

We also achieved strong results in relay events:

• 7th place in the medley relay (men)
• 7th place in the medley relay (mixed)
• 10th place in the butterfly relay (mixed)

In the overall university ranking, Frankfurt School delivered an excellent result, placing among the top 16 out of 92 universities.

In addition to these top performances, there were numerous personal bests and strong individual efforts, highlighting the team’s considerable potential. It is also worth mentioning that several team members competed in a swimming competition for the first time and impressed with outstanding performances and great dedication.

Team Spirit and Growth of the Initiative

Beyond the athletic achievements, team spirit was at the heart of the experience. The mutual support at poolside, shared encouragement, and positive atmosphere made DHM 2026 a special event for everyone involved.

Our initiative continues to develop steadily, both in terms of participation and performance level. Participation in the DHM marks another important step toward establishing ourselves as a permanent force in university sports.

We hope this report has sparked your interest! If you would like to join FS Swimming, you are always welcome.

For the upcoming semester, we are also planning to expand our offers:

• Additional competitions, both national and international
• A course for non-swimmers
• A course for amateur swimmers to raise performance levels

Find out more about Frankfurt School’s sports initiatives here.