Diekmann calls it a day
Jesse Jackson KauraisaWindhoek
Namibian rower Maike Diekmann has announced her retirement from the sport after an illustrious career which saw her representing the country at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. “Over a year has passed since I represented Namibia at the Tokyo Olympics. I have been thinking a lot about the rights words to use to close this chapter of my life,” she said.
The 28-year-old began her career back in 2015 in Makhanda (formerly Grahamstown), South Africa. The rower made a steady improvement in 2016 after finishing third and fourth in the single and double sculls at the South African national championships. “I loved the challenges rowing provided me with, I loved proving people wrong and I loved working hard and training to become the strongest and fittest version of myself.”
Hard work pays off
Diekmann appeared at the world under-23 championships in Rotterdam in 2015, where she ended 22nd. Her career was followed by two sixth-place finishes at world championships in 2018 and again at the World Rowing Cup in Rotterdam in 2019. In October 2019, she finally clinched a major medal at the African championship in Tunisia by winning gold in the women’s single scull final. The rower competed in several events before eventually qualifying to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics where she represented Namibia with pride.
“I like to choose paths that not many have walked.
The ones who have known me well for a while would agree with this. “You all taught me that what I was doing was so much bigger than just achieving my own dream, it was about inspiring young girls, becoming a role model for women in sport and creating a long-lasting legacy in Namibian sport, especially rowing,” she said.
Namibian rower Maike Diekmann has announced her retirement from the sport after an illustrious career which saw her representing the country at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. “Over a year has passed since I represented Namibia at the Tokyo Olympics. I have been thinking a lot about the rights words to use to close this chapter of my life,” she said.
The 28-year-old began her career back in 2015 in Makhanda (formerly Grahamstown), South Africa. The rower made a steady improvement in 2016 after finishing third and fourth in the single and double sculls at the South African national championships. “I loved the challenges rowing provided me with, I loved proving people wrong and I loved working hard and training to become the strongest and fittest version of myself.”
Hard work pays off
Diekmann appeared at the world under-23 championships in Rotterdam in 2015, where she ended 22nd. Her career was followed by two sixth-place finishes at world championships in 2018 and again at the World Rowing Cup in Rotterdam in 2019. In October 2019, she finally clinched a major medal at the African championship in Tunisia by winning gold in the women’s single scull final. The rower competed in several events before eventually qualifying to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics where she represented Namibia with pride.
“I like to choose paths that not many have walked.
The ones who have known me well for a while would agree with this. “You all taught me that what I was doing was so much bigger than just achieving my own dream, it was about inspiring young girls, becoming a role model for women in sport and creating a long-lasting legacy in Namibian sport, especially rowing,” she said.
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article