Martin Hollstein

Martin Hollstein (born 2 April 1987 in Neubrandenburg) is a German sprint canoer and Olympic champion. He has been competing since the late 2000s, mostly in kayak single, double or four.

Martin Hollstein
Personal information
NationalityGerman
Born (1987-04-02) 2 April 1987
Neubrandenburg, East Germany
Height192 cm (6 ft 4 in)
Weight90 kg (198 lb)
Sport
CountryGermany
SportCanoe sprint
ClubSC Neubrandenburg
Medal record
Men's canoe sprint
Representing  Germany
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
Olympic Games 1 0 1
World Championships 1 0 0
European Championships 2 1 0
World Cup 1 0 1
Total 5 1 2
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place2008 BeijingK-2 1000 m
Bronze medal – third place2012 LondonK-2 1000 m
World Championships
Gold medal – first place2010 PoznańK-2 1000 m
European Championships
Gold medal – first place2010 TrasonaK-2 1000 m
Gold medal – first place2011 BelgradeK-2 1000 m
Silver medal – second place2012 ZagrebK-2 1000 m
World Cup
Bronze medal – third place2013 RačiceK-4 1000 m
Gold medal – first place2016 RačiceK-2 1000 m

At the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing Hollstein won the gold in the K-2 1000 m event with partner Andreas Ihle. At the 2012 Summer Olympics, he and Ihle won the Olympic bronze medal.

Hollstein also won a gold medal in the K-2 1000 m event at the 2010 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships in Poznań and several European Championships.

Early life

Hollstein, short "Holly", grew up in the German State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in the city of Neubrandenburg. There he joined the sports club SC Neubrandenburg in which he remains as a member to this day. His original trainer is Jürgen Lickfett.[1] His first medal won Hollstein at the canoe state championships in Schwerin in the year 1998.[1]

Hollstein startet in September 2005 an education as a mechanic at the Webasto AG company in his hometown Neubrandenburg. There he worked for three years but concentrated mainly on his career as a competitive athlete.[2]

Professional career

2008 Summer Olympics

In the national qualification for Olympic Games in 2008 Hollstein he paddled his way to fifth place and was called up to the national team.

At the decisive World Cup in Szeged, he finished fourth in the 500m double with Rupert Wagner, but that fell short of the norm as Olympic champions Ronald Rauhe and Tim Wieskötter won the race.[3]

Shortly before the 2008 Summer Olympics, he surprisingly moved to the side of Andreas Ihle in the kayak double over 1000 meters for the ill Rupert Wagner. In a run-off, they were able to defeat Norman Zahm and Marcus Groß and thus secure participation in the Olympics. On the Olympic canoe course, the duo won the final and with that the Olympic gold medal.[3]

For this success, Hollstein received the Silver Laurel Leaf award in November 2008, the highest state award for top performance in German sport, awarded by the then Federal President Horst Köhler.[4]

World and European championships

In 2010, Hollstein competed again with his double partner Andreas Ihle and won the gold medal at the 2010 European Canoe Racing Championships in Trasona.  In the same year, the team also won the gold medal at the 2010 World Championships in Poznań.[3]

A year later, Hollstein won gold again at the 2011 European Canoe Racing Championships in Belgrade.  At the European Championships the following year in Zagreb, the canoeist took 2nd place.[3]

2012 Summer Olympics

At the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, he won the bronze medal in kayak double over 1000 m with Andreas Ihle.[5]

Hollstein again received the Silver Laurel Leaf for this Olympic medal success. It was awarded by the Federal President Joachim Gauck at a ceremony in Bellevue Palace.[6]

Injury

In September 2013, Hollstein had to take an injury-related break due to a broken hand.  Despite his lack of training, the canoeist received a promise from the sports association that he would continue to receive maximum support, even if he missed out on the 2014 World Cup team due to injury.[7]

After missing the finals at the European Championship 2014 in Brandenburg, intense training weeks followed for the four-man team around Hollstein with his partners Marius Radow, Martin Schubert and Kai Spenner.[8]

In 2015 Hollstein had to undergo a surgery on his shoulder and had to take an injury-related break again.[9]

End of active career

The last major competition for Hollstein were the 2016 European Championships in Moscow.  There he competed under national coach Reiner Kießler. In the kayak double over 500 meters, the team took 4th place.[10]

Federal Police and personal life

In September 2009 he began training as a police officer at the German Federal Police. During his active career the police officer trainee was a member of the Kienbaum National Training Centre, the Federal Police's top sports promotion facility for summer and year-round sports.[11]

He is currently working for the Federal Police at Berlin-Brandenburg Airport.[11] Hollstein currently resides in Berlin and continues to compete privately in various competitions throughout Germany and internationally.

Awards

Greatest competitions
Competition Place Discipline Location
2008 Summer Olympics 1st kayak double 1000-m Beijing
2009 European Championships 5th kayak double 200-m Brandenburg
2010 European Championships 1st kayak double 1000-m Trasona
2010 European Championships 6th kayak double 500-m Trasona
2010 World Championships 1st kayak double 1000-m Posen
2010 World Championships 4th kayak double 500-m Posen
2011 European Championships 1st kayak double 1000-m Belgrade
2011 European Championships 7th kayak double 500-m Belgrade
2011 World Championships 5th kayak double 1000-m Szeged
2012 European Championships 2nd kayak double 1000-m Zagreb
2012 Summer Olympics 3rd kayak double 1000-m London
2013 European Championships 5th kayak four 1000-m Montemor
2013 World Championships 9th kayak double 1000-m Duisburg
2016 European Championships 4th kayak double 500-m Moscow

References
  1. Detlef Granzow (2022-05-10). ""Holli" und die SCN-Goldspur | SVZ" (in German). Retrieved 2022-09-19.
  2. Martin HollsteinSC Neubr, enburgProfileistungssportlerNeubr, enburg. "Martin Hollstein - Profileistungssportler - SC Neubrandenburg" (in German). Retrieved 2022-09-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. "Martin Hollstein" (in German). Retrieved 2022-09-19.
  4. "Olympia: Silbernes Lorbeerblatt für Medaillengewinner". Retrieved 2022-09-26.
  5. "Kanu: Martin Hollstein: Freuen uns über Bronze - video Dailymotion" (in German). 2012-08-09. Retrieved 2022-09-19.
  6. "www.bundespraesident.de: Der Bundespräsident / Reisen und Termine / Verleihung des Silbernen Lorbeerblattes". Retrieved 2022-09-19.
  7. Detlef Granzow (2013-12-27). "Kanurennsport: Martin Hollstein und das Jahr der doppelten Bewährung | Nordkurier.de" (in German). Retrieved 2022-09-19.
  8. Detlef Granzow (2014-08-05). "Kanu: Kanu-WM als neue Chance für Sorgenkinder | Nordkurier.de" (in German). Retrieved 2022-09-19.
  9. Detlef Granzow (2015-08-05). "Operation: Kanu-Olympiasieger kämpft sich nach Schulter-OP zurück | Nordkurier.de" (in German). Retrieved 2022-09-19.
  10. Nordkurier (2013-05-21). "Hollstein-Premiere im Vierer | Nordkurier.de" (in German). Retrieved 2022-09-19.
  11. Porträt auf der Bundespolizei-Seite at the Wayback Machine (archived 2014-11-18) (retrieved 13 January 2014)
  12. "German's Kayak-Double Olympic gold medal winner Martin Hollstein..." (in German). Retrieved 2022-09-19.
  13. Paulina Jasmer (2022-01-18). "Ehrung: Neubrandenburger "Walk of Sport" kriegt vier neue Platten | Nordkurier.de" (in German). Retrieved 2022-09-19.
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