As partner universities for leading athletics, both the Hessian University of Public Management and Security (HöMS) and Hochschule RheinMain – University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSRM) enable their students to successfully balance competitive sports with their studies or training. On Monday evening, both universities celebrated the achievements of their athletes at the HSRM’s Kurt-Schumacher-Ring Campus.
HSRM President Prof. Dr. Eva Waller and Dr. Walter Seubert, President of HöMS, welcomed the attendees and thanked the organizers of the celebration as well as the athletes for their dedication.
Double Burden and Safety Net
In a subsequent panel discussion, decathlete Niklas Kaul, track and field athlete Carolin Schäfer, and Felix Rijhnen, an inline speed skater and speed skater, shared their experiences. The discussion made it clear that pursuing studies can be both a double burden and a source of support for elite athletes.
Carolin Schäfer reported that academic paths in leading athletics often differ from those of other students; internships must be coordinated with training schedules, and personal responsibility, communication, and time management are of paramount importance. Felix Rijhnen even missed the commencement of studies because of a world championship and was overwhelmed by the workload right from the start. Over time, however, he rose to the challenge.
Kaul, a student teacher, emphasized how important it is to be on campus and stay in touch with fellow students—especially when things aren’t going well in sports. The studies provide security and support in a career that can be marked by injuries and fluctuations in performance. They also help shape one’s identity: they help answer the question of who you are beyond sports.
Honoring Athletic Achievements
Afterward, the spotlight turned to the athletes from both universities. Meike Kaltenbach, director of HSRM University Sports, presented the awards to the HSRM elite athletes. The HöMS athletes were introduced and honored by Wolfgang Wenzel, coordinator of HöMS University Sports.
To conclude the evening, Thorsten Hütsch from the General German University Sports Association (adh), presented a trophy to Dr. Walter Seubert in recognition of HöMS’s performance at this year’s adh University Run, where the university fielded the largest group with 262 participants and a total of 2,241.78 kilometers, securing its sixth consecutive victory.
