Rowing has a long-standing tradition at Steinmühle Boarding School. Fourteen-year-old boarding student Maxim Dyck seized this opportunity and trained so relentlessly over the past few months that he won the silver medal right off the bat at the Hessian Ergometer Rowing Championships in Frankfurt—and he did so as the youngest competitor in the older 15/16—in his very first official competition!

Before he got into a boat for the first time at the Steinmühle, Maxim had already gained some experience. He took his first strokes on the Moselle near his hometown of Koblenz. From the Rhenania Rowing Club, he brought not only his skills but also a healthy dose of ambition. The new member of the Rudern und Sport (RuS) Steinmühle club quickly decided: I want to achieve something.

 

Four times a week during practice

 

No pain, no gain. That’s why this teenager is currently one of the most ambitious athletes in the Steinmühle weight room. He works out there four times a week and accepts that his free time is otherwise rather limited. Little changes in the summer. Then the 14-year-old rows in a single scull and trains at the same pace on the Lahn.

One of Maxim’s role models is RuS athlete Lucas Schäfer. It’s therefore hardly surprising that his goal is to become the Hesse champion himself one day. Just like Lucas, Maxim discovered cycling as a complementary sport to help with his training. “A good complement,” he says.

The fact that the boarding school student feels the RuS coaching staff fully supports his ambitions—and that, in his view, the club offers everything needed for successful rowing—makes it all come together. The fact that his parents support his rowing also gives the young rower a sense of security.

In his report, RuS coach Martin “Stromi” Strohmenger described Maxim as a “promising talent,” so it will be interesting to see how things unfold. The boarding school and rowing club community at Steinmühle will certainly be following Maxim’s activities with interest.

 

On the left in each photo: Maxim Dyck