Feature by Stefan Lackner<\/i><\/p>\n
CLEVELAND, Mississippi, October 20. GERMANY's Thomas Lurz is next up in our Getting to Know<\/i> series on European swimmers.<\/p>\n
Country: <\/b> Germany
\nEvents:<\/b> 5K, 10K and 800m free, 1500m free
\nBirthplace:<\/b> Wuerzburg
\nResidence: <\/b> Wuerzburg
\nHobbies: <\/b> Skateboarding, music, sport
\nClub: <\/b> SV Wuerzburg 05
\nCoach: <\/b> Stefan Lurz (Brother)
\nAchievements: <\/b>
\nIn 2000:
\n* 4th in 1500m free at Olympic Trials
\nIn 2001:
\n* German champ in 5km,13th at Worlds in Fukuoka
\nIn 2002:
\n* 2nd at Europeans in 5km, two-time German champ
\nIn 2003:
\n* 11th in 1500m free at Worlds in Barcelona
\nIn 2004:
\n* 22nd Olympic Games 1500m free; World champ in 10km.
\nIn 2005:
\n* World champ in 5km and 2nd in the 10km, 2nd World University Games in Izmir in 1500m free; Swimming World Magazine<\/i> Open Water Swimmer of the Year
\nIn 2006:
\n* Two-time European champ in 5km and 10km and two-time World champ in 5km and 10km; Swimming World Magazine<\/i> Open Water Swimmer of the Year.
\nIn 2007:
\n* World champ in 5km and 2nd in 10km in Melbourne
\nIn 2008:
\n* 3rd at Olympic Games in the 10km and European champ in 10km, World champ in 5km and 3rd in 10km.<\/p>\n
International Medals:<\/b>
\n* Six-time World champ, three-time European champ, 3rd at Olympic Games. All together 18 medals.<\/p>\n
Sponsors:<\/b>
\n* Arena, WVV, Deutsche Sporthilfe, Kiliansback, Radio Gong<\/p>\n
How was the Olympics experience overall? <\/b>
\nFor me, it was very good with winning a medal in the new marathon swimming event at the Olympics. The Games are always a very special experience in life, and I enjoyed it a lot.<\/p>\n
Was being a professional swimmer a dream of yours? <\/b>
\nNo. I came to swimming because of my older brother, Stefan. I then stayed in the sport, and found some friends. We've all been swimming together for years.<\/p>\n
Did you ever think you would be as successful in your country as you have been? <\/b>
\nNo, I didn't think this. My parents helped me a lot. My swimming club also helped, and my brother, of course, has been coaching me for more than four years.<\/p>\n
With the world getting faster in the sport, who do you see as the next big swim country after the U.S. and Australia? <\/b>
\nI think it is France, Russia and Italy.<\/p>\n
What is your next goal? <\/b>
\nTo swim the 5km and 10km open water events at Worlds next year in Rome. I will try to defend my title.<\/p>\n
What do you do to prepare before a race? <\/b>
\nOf course, I do a lot of kilometers in the water, and in open water, I try to gain experience in those environments. Knowing the course is very important. But, after some years, I have gotten better at it.<\/p>\n
What is the hardest set you've ever swum? <\/b>
\n12km test freestyle.<\/p>\n
Do you ever fear losing a race? <\/b>
\nNo. Losing is sport is normal. When you did your best before the race and in the race when there is someone faster, then you must be a good sportsman and know that he was better.<\/p>\n
Did you ever wish to participate in another sport? <\/b>
\nI started to play football when I was young, but I retired from the sport after my first swimming races.<\/p>\n
What would you say to a child, who is learning to swim, and is scared of the water?<\/b>
\nDon't go into the seat to swim there. Just go into the swim pool. In the pool, just try to relax during swimming.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Feature by Stefan Lackner CLEVELAND, Mississippi, October 20. GERMANY's Thomas Lurz is next up in our Getting to Know series on European swimmers. Country: Germany Events: 5K, 10K and 800m<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":85655,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"dois","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[10,4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-19245","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world","category-zzzzzzzzz"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"\r\n