NEWS

Special award of German Sport Aid Foundation granted to deaf swimmer Linda Neumann

Linda Neumann, zoo keeper at Freie Universität Berlin and successful deaf woman athlete, was granted a special award during the junior sport elections of the German Sport Aid Foundation. The female swimmer, who won two gold medals during the Deafolympics in 2013, was honoured by Federal President Joachim Gauck on Friday with the “Silver Bayleaf” medal. In August 2013, the 20-year-old Berliner had successfully completed her apprenticeship as a zoo keeper and was subsequently appointed as an employee by Freie Universität Berlin.

Linda Neuman has been member of the national squad of deaf swimmer athletes since 2008 and qualified herself for the Deafolympics in Taipeh in 2009, where she made it to the finals in three events. In 2011 she set up a short course world record of the deaf in 400 metres medley swimming. During the Deafolympics in Sofia in summer 2013, she came second in 400 metres freestyle and third in 400 metres medley swimming. For the year 2014 she plans to compete for the European Championship for the Deaf in Russia.

The representative for elite sport at Freie Universität Berlin, Mr. Jörg Förster, commented: “We are very glad about the honouring of Linda Neumann as junior sports woman of the year of the deaf. Linda Neumann has proved that education and competitive sports can be successfully combined at Freie Universiät Berlin”. By giving her an employee status Freie Universität Berlin demonstrated high esteem for Linda Neumann’s strong efforts to combine both spheres of life. “Linda Neumann further evidenced the special abilities generally attributed to competitive athletes during the time of her apprenticeship.”

The future Freie Universität Berlin will continue to patronize the sport activities of Linda Neumann. Mr. Lothar Fahrenkoog, the training officer of Freie Universität, pointed out that Linda Neumann has set an example for the fact that the successful completion of an apprenticeship while maintaining private activities can be accomplished with commitment and self-organization. “By employing Mrs. Neumann the university gained a dedicated and good co-worker.”

Based on a contract with the Olympic Center Berlin a dual career in sport and studies or apprenticeship will be sponsored at Freie Universität Berlin.

For further information please contact EAS Board Member Jörg Förster:

Mr. Jörg Förster, Director of University Sport Service and Consultant for elite sport at Freie Universität Berlin. Mail: joerg.foerster@fu-berlin.de