The Road to Munich – Schultz & Swillims seek relay revenge – The SPAR European Cup in Munich is pencilled in for Ingo Schultz and Bastian Swillims as the meeting they are going to set the record straight.

After the German 4×400 quartet was controversially disqualified in the European Athletics Indoor Championships last winter, the Titan Two will be looking to stamp their class on Europe’s elite.

„The quartet wants to deliver a very good performance,“ says an understated Schultz, the sub-text being that this is the classic revenge scenario. On home ground in the Munich Olympic stadium, there will be no lack of vocal support for the squad, but for Schultz there is an extra dimension to his motivation.

It is five years since the 2.01m Schultz carved up the Munich track to lift the European title, the highlight of his career to date. It seemed then that the Bergisch Gladbach resident was destined to go on to greater things before illness intervened. But Munich 2002 remains his sweetest memory. All the more reason to make the return there special too.

That Birmingham disqualification was all down to Swillims who let the dreams of glory get to him on the final bend when he nudged the Russian anchor on his way past, thereby prompting his team to be turfed off the podium. Nonetheless, Swillims had already taken silver in the individual event in his fastest time to date indoors and out of 45.62 and is primed for his best outdoor season yet. That time also put him up there as third fastest German in history on the boards, confirming that this is an athlete on the up.

„The (DLV) qualification for Osaka (45.55) is there,“ says Swillims. „Maybe the sights can be set even lower.“ The 400m national coach, Volker Beck, is clearer on the subject: „He has a world class weekend in Birmingham behind him. He can get down to 45.00 this summer.“

After the wilderness years of illness and injury, Schultz is equally upbeat about the coming summer: „I’m right on target,“ says Schultz who had two years out (2004-2006) because of a career threatening glandular fever and then a troubling plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendon tweaks. Now though, both he and Swillims are feeding off each other in their quest for success. The two share a coach, Thomas Kremer, and train together at least twice a week: „It does us both good,“ says Schultz.

Swillims has spent the winter concentrating on upper body strength: „I’ve put some weight on through my strength training,“ explains Swillims. „My racing weight is now around 90 kilos.“ Both men present an imposing sight. At 2.01 (Schultz) and Swillims at 1.92, they would not be out of place on a basketball court.

But weight has not stopped Swillims working on his sprinting. It was partly the reason he gave such a good account of himself in Birmingham. „I’ve spent time working on my speed and there is no reason it should not show in the outdoor season as well,“ he told German athletics magazine Leichtathletik.

For his part, Schultz has spent three weeks this winter in Potchefstroom, South Africa: „I’ve never trained so hard in 18 days,“ he said. Another training camp is planned for the Algarve in the month of May. „There talent is still there,“ says the 31 year old. „And I have no health problems.“

So the scene is set for the German duo to hit the tracks this summer. After a bitter-sweet European Indoors, both men are eager to make an impact in the first major date on the outdoor scene, each for his own reason. For Scultz it will be an emotional re-encounter with his peak, for Swillims confirmation of his improved form. June 23-24 in Munich will witness how well-placed those hopes are.

Source:
European Athletics (EAA)
https://www.european-athletics.org/
EAA