The 470 team

The team Rothweiler/Kussatz

“It’s not enough to be just taking part.” This was the somewhat sobering wrap-up of Steffi Rothweiler after her disappointing results at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. And it never crossed Vivien Kussatz’ mind either to quit Olympic sailing when she lost the national trials to Steffi. Instead, the two sailors quickly decided join forces and since the spring of 2005, they are striving for a common goal: They definitely want to win a medal on the Olympic sailing area in Chinese Qingdao in 2008.

During their first joint season 2005, the two came ninth at the European Championships in June in Gdynia, Poland and third at Kiel Week, which were promising results and a good motivation for the road to Bejing and Qingdao. The two then reached a splendid success in their “double career” in 2006: The girls scooped the title at the 470 European Championships on Lake Balaton in Hungary – their greatest joint success to date.

But more than this: The women defended their European title successfully in summer 2007 in Thessaloniki, Greece. This opened the door wide for their Olympic nomination. But they still had to qualify Germany then for a nation's spot. At the end of a nailbiting World Championship in Cascais, Portugal the team secured their tickets to Qingdao, China 2008. The PreOlympics one year prior to the Games ended with rank five for the pinta racing team.

Joint successes

2007
1st at European Championships in Thessaloniki, Greece
14th at World Championships in Cascais, Portugal
5th at PreOlympics in Qingdao, China
2nd at Open German Championships in Seebruck, Chiemsee

2006
1st at European Championships in Balatonfuered, Hungary
3rd at Qingdao International Regatta, Olympic test race, China
10th at World Championships in Rizaho, China

2005
3rd at Kiel Week
9th at European Championships in Gdynia, Poland