20 years as a partner university
University of Wuppertal celebrates top athletes and welcomes the City of Wuppertal to its team of supporters
Recognition for dedication, exceptional perseverance and outstanding achievements: the top athletes from the University of Wuppertal and those congratulating them. // Photo: Friederike von Heyden
For 20 years, the University of Wuppertal has been a partner university for elite sport. What this means becomes clear anew every year when the university honours its student elite athletes – as was the case last Wednesday at the Campus Summer Festival. Those in charge have now taken this anniversary year as an opportunity to update the underlying agreement: with immediate effect, the City of Wuppertal is also joining as a new cooperation partner to support the dual careers of elite athletes in Wuppertal.
“The fact that Mayor Miriam Scherff personally signed the agreement sends a strong signal in support of dual careers in Wuppertal. Balancing elite sport with academic studies is far more than just a personal concern for the athletes – it reflects a shared responsibility between the university, the local authority and organised sport. Anyone who supports young people in successfully combining top-level sporting performance with academic qualifications is investing in the future of our society and, at the same time, strengthening the appeal of Wuppertal as a centre for higher education, science and sport,” said UniSport Director Dennis Fink, commenting on the newly agreed collaboration.
Wuppertal’s Lord Mayor, Miriam Scherff, emphasised at the signing of the agreement on stage at the Campus Summer Festival: “Twenty years as a partner university for elite sport is a milestone on which I warmly congratulate the university of Wuppertal. For the city of Wuppertal, it is the logical next step to now officially join this strong network. We are happy to contribute our resources and municipal sports facilities to specifically promote youth and elite sport in the region. It is very important to us that these exceptionally talented athletes find the best conditions here in Wuppertal, both on the track and in the lecture hall.”
The network for elite student sport in Wuppertal: (from left) Volker Lauer (Head of the Rhine/Ruhr Olympic Training Centre), Miriam Scherff (Lord Mayor of Wuppertal), Benjamin Schenk (Secretary-General of the General German University Sports Association), Ursula Dumsch (Director of the Wuppertal Student Services Organisation), Prof Dr Birgitta Wolff (rector of the university of Wuppertal) and Tobias Knoch (Executive Board Member of the North Rhine-Westphalia State Sports Federation). // Photo: Friederike von Heyden
A strong network for elite student sport
In future, the city’s role will consist in particular of enabling elite athletes participating in the programme to use municipal sports facilities, promoting networking with the North Rhine-Westphalia sports schools and partner schools for competitive sport in Wuppertal, and implementing joint measures to promote young talent.
The basis for this support is the cooperation agreement ‘Partner University for Elite Sport’ (see info box), which the University of Wuppertal first signed on 9 February 2006. Since then, it has regulated the compatibility of studies with training and competition requirements for BUW athletes, for example by making the daily study routine more flexible, compensating for absences or allowing individual examination dates. Other cooperation partners in the Wuppertal network include, alongside the City of Wuppertal, the NRW/Rhein-Ruhr Olympic Training Centre, the General German University Sports Association and the Wuppertal Student Services Organisation.
Benjamin Schenk, Secretary-General of the General German University Sports Association (adh), emphasises: “Supporting dual careers thrives on strong partnerships. The fact that the City of Wuppertal will officially be joining this tried-and-tested network in future deserves great recognition. On behalf of the adh, we would like to thank all those involved for their long-standing and dedicated commitment to the interests of top student athletes. Together, we are creating opportunities for people who combine top-level sporting performance with their studies.”
The stage is set for remarkable achievements
Mayor Miriam Scherff was also one of the first to offer her congratulations: immediately after the signing, the stage belonged to the BUW athletes themselves, who received well-deserved recognition for their achievements on the day.
Michael Fallgatter, BUW professor and elite sport representative, paid particular tribute to the young athletes’ commitment and perseverance as he presented the certificates: “It takes a great deal of passion and courage to embark on this unique path. It is very important to us as a university to support you in this endeavour. Let me put it this way: we, too, strive for excellence when it comes to creating the best possible conditions for you.”
The following athletes were honoured as part of the Campus Summer Festival:
- Linus Bader (speed climbing) – participation in international competitions (World Cup)
- Aaron Börkei (roller hockey) – Cup winner & German runner-up
- Nicolás Niederle Gómez (whitewater kayaking) – 2nd place at the U23 World Championships
- Yolanda Kahmann (roller hockey) – German champion & German cup winner, European Championship squad
- Victoria Krause (javelin) – 1st place at the German Championships
- Ekaterina Kuzminskaya (synchronised swimming) – 1st place and two 2nd places at the German Championships
- Lena Lindemann (handball) – U19 European Champion
- Denys Mozolevych (speed climbing) – competed at the World Championships
- Ayna Pollok (fencing) – 2nd place at the German University Fencing Championships (DHM) in the team sabre competition
- Franziska Ritter (speed climbing) – no competitions in 2025 due to injury
- Lennart Roos (400m hurdles) – 2nd place at the DHM Athletics
- Denise Schmitz (fencing) – 2nd place at the DHM Fencing in the sabre team event
- Sofiia Tulchynska (speed climbing) – 2nd place at the German Championships (not included in the rankings)
- Katharina Wagner (fencing) – 2nd place at the DHM Fencing in the sabre team event
- Annika Zech (roller hockey) – European Championships squad
Further background: Partner university for elite sport
The project was developed in 1999 on the initiative of the General German University Sports Association and other partners. Subsequently, the universities and organised sport reached an agreement with the North Rhine-Westphalia state government to support student athletes through individually tailored study conditions. The aim is to make elite sport compatible with university studies for athletes and to secure their professional future after their time in elite sport. In particular, this involves special arrangements regarding the standard duration of study, coordinating exam dates with sporting commitments, and making attendance requirements more flexible through opportunities to ‘catch up’ on work.
By signing the agreement on 9 February 2006, the University of Wuppertal undertook to support athletes pursuing a dual career at the university. To mark its 20th anniversary, the Wuppertal Agreement was updated in terms of both wording and content in collaboration with all partners – now including the City of Wuppertal – to bring it into line with today’s circumstances.
Further information on the topic of partner universities for elite sport is available on the UniSports website: www.unisport.uni-wuppertal.de/de/unisport/spitzensport/
We asked the top athletes at the University of Wuppertal
Linus Bader, speed climbing
Photo: Salome Bader
As a competitive athlete, flexibility is incredibly important. For me, the partner university for elite sport means, above all, that my studies and competitive sport are compatible, and that I can continue my academic journey despite training camps and competitions. It gives me the assurance that both are possible – without having to choose between my studies and sport. Especially as I make my way back to the very top of international sport, this support is a vital source of reassurance for me.
Yolanda Kahmann, roller hockey
Photo: Nadine Schlesinger
The support I receive from the programme gives me the opportunity to develop as much as possible, both in my studies and in my sport. My lecturers are very understanding. The increased number of absences due to international matches in recent years has therefore not been a problem. This means I can focus fully on my sport alongside my studies.
Victoria Krause, javelin throw
Photo: Valentina Krause
I think it’s great that BUW supports the dual career of work and elite sport. The programme not only provides a platform for sport, but also offers me practical help in my day-to-day life. Increased absences due to a heavier training workload are accepted without any fuss, and it’s also possible to reschedule exams.
Lena Lindemann, handball
Photo: Ruslana Litvinov
Combining university studies with competitive sport is no easy feat and requires a great deal of organisation, perseverance and discipline. I am delighted that the university is continuing to prioritise this issue. I hope that this partnership will offer athletes even more opportunities in future to successfully combine the two.
