MERCI PARIS! OUR PARIS OLYMPICS HIGHLIGHTS 

The Paris Olympics were an unforgettable experience full of impressive moments and exceptional performances for our HYLO^® athletes. From 26 July to 11 August 2024, all eyes were on Paris as we enjoyed countless wonderful, emotional and exciting moments alongside the German gymnastics team and Tim Hellwig in the triathlon.  

GOLD FOR TIM HELLWIG IN THE MIXED RELAY 

The first golden moment came with Tim Hellwig and his gold in the mixed relay in the triathlon. With this gold medal, the triathlete achieved one of the greatest successes of the Paris Olympics as part of the German quartet: after 16 years, Germany once again have a triathlon gold. His journey began with the ‘Seine water adventure’, where Tim finished the individual triathlon event in a respectable 18th place – the fastest German athlete.  

GOLDEN END TO THE OLYMPICS FOR THE GERMAN GYMNASTICS TEAM 

Right from the very start of the Olympic Games, we were eagerly watching the athletes of the German gymnastics team, with all eyes on Paris for the artistic, trampoline and rhythmic gymnastics events. 

Men’s artistic gymnastics 

Germany’s gymnasts had an impressive start to the Paris Olympics. Pascal Brendel, Nils Dunkel and Timo Eder (on their first appearances), world bars champion Lukas Dauser, and four-time Olympian ‘hero de Janeiro’ Andreas Toba all put in good performances, even if they just missed out on the team final. Lukas Dauser deserves particular mention, as he gained seventh place in the bars final despite an injury shortly before the Olympics, allowing him to celebrate a worthy conclusion to his international career in Paris. Nils Dunkel achieved 18th place in the all-around final. He particularly impressed on his specialist discipline of the pommel horse, gaining the fifth-best score among the 24 gymnasts in the final and demonstrating that he could compete with the world’s best. 

Trampolining 

Fabian Vogel, one of Germany’s only trampoline gymnasts at the Paris Olympics, put in a remarkable performance despite an injury in the first round and finished in eleventh place. 

Women’s artistic gymnastics 

Germany’s female gymnasts Helen Kevric, Pauline Schäfer-Betz and Sarah Voss put in good performances as individual competitors to represent the German gymnastics association. Helen Kevric, the youngest member of Germany’s entire Olympic team, impressed with her nerve and perfection as she competed with the world’s elite. As well as sixth place in the uneven bars, the 16 year old also managed a hugely strong top-eight finish by coming eighth in the all-around competition.  

Rhythmic gymnastics 

Sadly, Germany’s rhythmic gymnastics team were less fortunate and missed out on the group all-around final. Despite a promising first routine, errors in the second resulted in a disappointing overall score. Nevertheless, the gymnasts will be able to build on this and can be proud to have competed as one of the fourteen best teams in the world.  

A golden moment shining in eternity 

Darja Varfolomeev provided a golden end to the games for the German gymnastics team: the 17-year-old athlete won Germany’s first ever gold Olympic medal for rhythmic gymnastics. For Varfolomeev, already a six-time world champion and two-time European champion, this historic victory was the fulfilment of a long-held dream that took a lot of work and effort. Her teammate Margarita Kolosov just missed out on a bronze medal to finish fourth, rounding off the German gymnastics team’s exceptional performance. When the decision was announced that ‘Dascha’ had won gold and her teammate was in a ‘thankless’ fourth place, the friendship and solidarity shown by the two athletes was inspiring and an example of the German gymnastics team’s genuine team spirit. 

Merci & au revoir Paris

The Paris Olympics were filled with unforgettable times and exceptional moments for HYLO^®‘s athletes. Merci to all the athletes for their dedication and commitment.   

Au revoir Paris, and we look forward to seeing you soon in the city on the Seine when our boccia players Anita Raguwaran and Boris Nicolai line up for Germany in the Paralympics at the end of August. 

We are looking forward to more top performances in boccia in Paris and wish them every success!