| 07.06.2011 |
ISF Swim-Team very successful in Berlin
On Sunday, May 22nd a group of 19 highly motivated girls and boys from 1st to 6th grade together with 4 coaches and 7 parents started their trip to Berlin at 6.30 (!) am. Even at this early hour the S-Bahn crossing was our first obstacle, but could only temporarily disturb our journey. Initial instructions from Judith about the rules on the bus (no gum and chocolate) and off we went.
Our first planned stop was at the former West-/East-German border control station (Eisenach) which had be converted into a Motorway station but the buildings and floodlight poles still reflect this historic site. The atmosphere on the bus was great and following the stop the youngest team members chose a DVD to watch that coincided perfectly: Happy Fish, a cartoon film, featuring a young fish, losing his parents and then defeats the evil shark in a competition over the love of his life, very entertaining even for adults.
Time flew and after a lunch break stop we arrived in Berlin at around 14.00 all energized and after such a long ride on the bus everybody was ready to get off the bus heading for the Brandenburg Gate. Unfortunately a bike race was taking place through the Tiergarten and around the Brandenburg Gate which forced us to take a “real” walk to the Brandenburg Gate from past the freshly renovated and thus very shiny Column of Victory, also called Goldelse. We had to cross several barriers but after about 45 minutes walking we arrived at the Brandenburg Gate, took a great Team-Picture, went to the tourist store where the kids could by some souvenirs and enjoyed a cool drink in the sun. On our walk back to the bus through the Tiergarten and along the Spree we passed the Reichstag and Schloss Bellevue.
Next Stop was the BBS where we let off the athletes being housed by BBS parents and got a glance at the Olympic Football Stadium, still showing the flags from the German Cup-Final of the previous night. The coaches, parents and families with younger kids then took off to our very nice hotel with the unforgettable name Hotel Berlin, Berlin, conveniently located just a block away from the Tiergarten and 10-15 minutes walk from Potsdamer Platz, Brandenburg Gate and Ku-Damm.
Monday, the actual day of the swim event, started with breakfast at around 7, check-out and the bus ride to the swim stadium. We got-off to a “rough” start because initially the busses transporting to the event arrived a bit late and instead of three only two. The team from Bonn had spent the night at the same hotel so about 65 people faced just 48 seats available. Quickly and rightly so it was decided that athletes had to go first, since their event was the reason we all came to Berlin. The Bonn-Team had a head start because they had checked out before us and quickly occupied the two busses. Now the parents had to get off again to make room for the ISF-Team. It should be the last occasion where they were first, because during the upcoming swim event the ISF would show its true strength.
After a 20 minute bus-ride the team arrived at the Forumbad am Olympia-Stadion, formerly also used by the British Army as part of their high-security Berlin Headquarter, and now used by the waterpolo team of Spandau 04 as a training facility. In total 5 Teams participated in the event, each with 24 athletes, allowed to swim in 1 IM race, 3 individual races plus finals and 2 relays. After A short 25 minute warm-up period the competition kicked-off with the first race of the day, 100 meter individual medley (Lagenschwimmen), comprising of 25 meters butterfly, back-stroke, breast – stroke and finally freestyle. Alex Morris, ISF, won in impressive fashion, beating his opponents by nearly a length and brought us off to a great start, energizing the entire team and cheering during the medal celebration. Alex finished the day as the most successful athlete, winning all the races he competed in, including two relays and brought home six (!) gold medals. Most successful ISF female athlete was Anne-Therese von Finckenstein with 4 gold and 1 silver medals. ISF dominated the tournament as the most successful team winning all but 1 relay race and in the end every team member won at least one medal.
The final team results were:
Girls Grade 3/4 1.Place
Girls Grade 5/6 1. Place
Boys Grade 3/4 3. Place
Boys Grade 5/6 1. Place
ISF swam 17 Interschool Records out of 34 events.
A lot of cheering and motivation by other team-members, coaches and parents created a fantastic atmosphere and due to the “climatic” conditions in the swim stadium even the spectators in the bleachers above the pool got their share of exercise, heat and sweat. A few tears by disappointed team members, missing the finals or not winning their races had to be dried, but in the end everybody on the team was smiling, proud and happy with their efforts. The tournament ended with the medal celebration for the overall team results in the various age groups.
After a quick pasta lunch in the nearby restaurant and a final team photo we started our return trip to Frankfurt at around 15.30. The kids were all still hyped from the eventful and successful day and a few discussed their individual races and some of the close outcomes of the relays.
Another movie shortened a smooth ride and after the dinner break the majority of the group, including parents and coaches were happy to catch up on sleep. Thanks to our great bus driver and no traffic problems we arrived at ISF at around 23.00. And as expected, the journey ended as it started with a short stop at the S-Bahn crossing waiting for the barriers to open.
The ride on the bus with the team introduced especially the younger kids to team spirit, gave them the feeling of being the part of something bigger and that they contributed to the overall success of the team. Everybody enjoyed it.
On behalf of all kids and parents I would like to express a very special thanks to the coaches for their weekly efforts in training, motivating and supporting our kids. I think we all know about the logistical challenges one has to face in organizing these events and making it work. I hope we will have a chance to go again next year.
Andreas Schmitz
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| 01.05.2011 |
Results: 9th track-opening competition on the 1st of May successful
Following Results were achieved:
50 m Sprint Thea Haeberlin Platz 12 10,03 sec PB
Andrej Seifert Platz 17 9,06 sec PB
75 m Sprint Amelie Haeberlin Platz 4 11,51 sec PB
100 m Sprint Natascha Seifert Platz 2 13,97 sec PB
300 m Sprint Natascha Seifert Platz 1 46,16 sec PB
800 m Thea Haeberlin Platz 9 3,29 min PB
Amelie Haeberlin Platz 4 2,47 min PB
Natascha Seifert Platz 1 2,39 min PB
1000 m Andrej Seifert Platz 17 4,25 min PB
Detailled Results availble under: http://www.lg-bsn.de/ergebnisse/2011/05-01-bahneroeffnung/gesamtergebnisse.hms |
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| 29.01.2011 |
ISF ranked 1st in 2011 GISST Swim Gala at ISF
We would like to thank all U14 girls and U14 Boys, Varsity girls and boys who represented ISF in the GISST Swimming gala on January 28-29.
All swimmers turned up with a wonderful commitment.
Our U14 teams won the tournament, the Varisty girls team got 5th and the Varisty boys team 4th place. In total ISF has achieved 9 pts for the overall ranking, where ISF is ranking second place right now. Many new SWIM GISST records were broken by ISF swimmers. ISF swimmers showed up with a wonderful team spirit proofed by the the relay results. The U14 ISF B-Team enjoyed the Inter Schools Swimming Gala against Copenhagen International School.
This tournament would not have happened without the support from all swim coaches, PE teachers, SLO staff, CAS students, Aaron Huysmens and Vince Campana, Steve Völker and his team and many parents who have volunteered to make this event a memorable one. A special "Thank you" to our housing representitives Mrs Claire Stone and Mrs Petra Henning. ISF has an exceptional reputation within the GISST organisation regarding the hospitality organisation.
- Click here to view the competition protocol -
   
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