Status: 04.08.2024 00:22
Laura Ludwig is ending her beach volleyball career after the season. The Olympic champion from Rio had already failed in the preliminary round in Paris with her new partner Louisa Lippmann.
The 38-year-old woman from Hamburg announced her decision in the presence of her husband and two sons on Saturday evening in the German House in Paris. “Today it was spontaneous,” said Ludwig, but “the decision has matured in my mind over the last few weeks and months. But I wanted to put all my energy into this one more time.” Now “the burden” has been lifted.
There are still a few goals, however: Ludwig wants to compete in the German Championships in Timmendorfer Strand (29 August to 1 September). Before that, there are the European Championships in the Netherlands (13 to 18 August) and an Elite16 tournament on the Pro Tour in Hamburg (21 to 25 August).
“I want to celebrate a great end to the season with Louisa on the field and take that with me. But after that it’s over.”
Laura Ludwig
Paris record: three defeats without winning a set
The hope of being able to return to glory days in Paris was bitterly disappointed. Ludwig and Lippmann came last in their preliminary group. On Saturday they suffered their third defeat in three games against the Spanish European Championship runners-up Daniela Alvarez/Tania Moreno with 16:21, 19:21 – and that without winning a single set.
Triumph with Walkenhorst and a brief dream of LA
For Ludwig, it was already the fifth Summer Games. The East Berlin native celebrated her great triumph in Rio de Janeiro with Kira Walkenhorst: in 2016, they won Olympic gold.
Ludwig, who had previously given birth to her second son, has been playing with Lippmann since 2022. Together with the former indoor national player Lippmann, she started her last Olympic mission. “A challenge that was almost impossible,” she said. But they got the second ticket to Paris behind Svenja Müller/Cinja Tillmann.
Immediately after the third preliminary round defeat, Ludwig spoke of consultations with her inner circle after the season. She did not even categorically rule out another attempt for Los Angeles 2028. But in the end, it happened quickly. Ludwig added somewhat jokingly: “I’m just getting old and have to leave it to the young people.”
Lippmann sees her future in the sand
Lippmann is also much younger and has already announced that she does not want to return to the hall. Her unsuccessful Olympic debut under the Eiffel Tower does not change that. The first Summer Games, “you have dreams and visions,” said the 29-year-old. Eight years ago, she watched Ludwig and Walkenhorst’s gold triumph on TV: “For me at the time, that was the ultimate goal of how to live out your sport.”
“I am incredibly grateful to Laura for allowing me to experience my first Olympic Games with her and for her commitment to this.”
Louisa Lippmann
And both agree that their time together should not end like this. “I want to celebrate a great farewell to the season on the field with Louisa and take that with me,” Ludwig announced, looking ahead to the three remaining tournaments, adding: “But after that it’s over.”
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Sports news | 03.08.2024 | 23:25
