AreaRead the video transcript here
Jörg Bleske, Head Coach Open Water:
"Remember, you have to do two complete laps. Two complete. Only turn into the finish line on the third lap. And don't forget to strike.«
Just over half an hour to go, then Leo Heckel will make his grand entrance. Together with his swimming partner Adrian Schlüter, he will compete in the final of the 1500 meters in open water swimming at the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin.
Jörg Bleske, Head Coach Open Water:
"Running today! I'm definitely keeping my fingers crossed. Yesterday was great. Today you're going to get the right one. Very strong performance. Let's see what comes out in the end. Get in, boys!"
Reporter:
"Leo, it's not much longer. How are you doing right now?"
Leo Heckel, Athlete Special Olympics:
»Very good. I'll be surprised what it will be.«
The competition for classification the day before went well for Adrian and Leo. They finished second behind the Mexican team. Depending on their placement in these heats, the athletes at the Special Olympics are divided into different performance classes. In unified sports, people with and without intellectual disabilities compete as a couple in the spirit of inclusion. And off you go into the water. The temperature in the lake in Berlin-Grünau is rather too warm after the hot days. Unlike the competition, however, Leo and Adrian still swim in a closed wetsuit. For better buoyancy. For the start, the swimmers from Hamburg opted for the position on the far outside in order to get around the first turn better. Will it pay off?
Announcer:
»Take your marks!«
A swimming pool in Hamburg-Altona, five weeks earlier. Here, the two athletes train three times a week at Eimsbütteler TV. The club is committed to inclusive sports.
Krister Otterberg, home trainer ETV Hamburg:
"You're already halfway through. From now on, it's all downhill.«
Leo has been swimming since he was two. He has a global developmental disorder with intellectual disability. Caused by a lack of oxygen at birth. Sometimes he loses the line while swimming.
Adrian Schlüter, Athlete Special Olympics:
"It happens. For example, if Leo doesn't look up. Then he swims all over the pool. It's not such a big problem here in the gym now, but when we train outside, for example. Then it can be in one direction.«
Krister Otterberg is constantly noting times and orbits. He won the national Special Olympics as a home trainer with Adrian and Leo a year ago. A major challenge is that the mentally handicapped can quickly be distracted during training. Another training location is enough.
Krister Otterberg, home trainer ETV Hamburg:
"And the change, until the training in the other hall, because it is darker, has a different color scheme and so on - you could tell that from the athletes everywhere, that we had to get in first until we got used to it again."
At the age of 23, Leo is already an experienced swimmer. He has set himself high goals for the World Games in Berlin.
Reporter:
"With what expectations, with what goals are you going? «
Leo Heckel, Athlete Special Olympics:
"I want a gold medal best. That would be the icing on the cake.«
Let's see if he can actually fulfill this dream. The Special Olympics: the world's largest inclusive sporting event. More than usual in international sport, these Games are about the Olympic motto. There is no official medal table. But being there is not everything for everyone – for many athletes, it's also about winning. Nearly 20,000 volunteers help with the process. Around 7000 athletes from more than 180 countries compete in 26 disciplines.
Visitor:
"It's a great party here. And all of them are super friendly. There is something for everyone. And inclusion is lived.«
Visitor:
"I think they deserve just as much attention as the others. I mean, in Germany people usually only watch football. Yes, just take a look. «
Visitor:
»Nice colorful event. Nevertheless, I would have liked a little more from the organizational side, from the Berlin side. To be honest, I miss it a little more in the city. You don't see enough of it. It's a bit of a shame that opportunities were missed."
Quite critical tones. Unfortunately, there are also only a few spectators at the race on the regatta course in Grünau. The swimmers were cheered on mainly by family or team members. Leo and Adrian got off to a good start. Lead just ahead of the duo from Mexico.
Jörg Bleske, Head Coach Freiwasser:
"Adrian in particular knows what he has to do. And he has Leo in tow. He pays close attention to the extent to which Leo can follow him. If not, then he slows down the pace. And if Leo is doing well, he swims a little faster. So he's really good at that."
Shortly before the first 500 meters, the Mexicans passed the German team. But Leo and Adrian have found their rhythm – will they come close again?
Jörg Bleske, Head Coach Freiwasser:
"Of course, the pulse rises. First round finished. Super up front. Anything can happen: first, second, third. That's what it looks like at the moment. But it's only the first third of the entire route."
The Mexicans are too strong. And they are the first to cross the finish line. Behind them, there is a neck-and-neck race for second place. Between Germany and the duo from Costa Rica. After all, Leo has the most reserves, he even strikes ahead of Adrian. After 1.5 kilometers, they are 25 minutes and 33 seconds wafer-thin ahead of the Costa Ricans. What an achievement: within a year, the Germans have improved by four and a half minutes. It wasn't enough for the icing on the cake, the gold medal. But that hardly bothers the viewers. They celebrate enthusiastically. And Leo turns out to be a real sportsman. As soon as he gets out of the water, he first congratulates the winning team. After that: sit down and have a drink. They have been preparing for these games for a year. The moments now are the well-deserved reward. Everyone wants to see Leo.
Krister Otterberg, home trainer ETV Hamburg:
"I'm so happy. I really had goosebumps. Super. But you were still trying to get the others."
Leo Heckel, Athlete Special Olympics
»Yes.«
Krister Otterberg, home trainer ETV Hamburg:
"You really swam up."
Leo Heckel, Athlete Special Olympics:
"I don't know yet what really happened. So I'm proud now that we've now finished second."
Reporter:
"Is there such a thing as a next goal, Leo, what's next? «
Leo Heckel, Athlete Special Olympics:
"Keep swimming! Maybe take part in the next World Games if it works out. But I can't say that right now, because that's a long goal and yes."
Reporter:
"And now it's time to celebrate a bit? «
Leo Heckel, Athlete Special Olympics:
"First of all, let's celebrate a bit."
The next Special Olympics Summer World Games will take place in four years' time. Leo will then be 27. And he revealed one more thing away from the camera: he wants this gold medal – absolutely.