Roland Gäbler
Encyclopedia
Roland Gäbler is a German sailor and member in the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein
as well as in the Kieler Yacht-Club
. He competed in five Olympic Games
.
Gäbler grew up in Bremen, where he started sailing on the river Weser. His talent for sailing was advanced by his parents, who bought him an old Laser
. At the age of 14 he competed in his first regatta
, one year later he won his first sailing competition. During his career, Gäbler won two European championships and 14 international Laser championships.
With 23 years Gäbler switched the racing class to catamaran and sailed a Tornado
, together with his Laser training partner Hans-Jürgen Pfohe. Both competed in the Kiel Week
and qualified straightaway for the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul
, however they won no medal. During the rough regatta Gäbler suffered a fracture of his hand.
Job reasons forced Hans-Jürgen Pfohe to quit sailing in 1989. Frank Parlow became Gäblers new partner. The team won four European Tornado championships and the world championship in 1996 for the first time. But also the cooperation with Parlow was not fruitful: neither at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona
(position 11) nor at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta
(position 7) they could win a medal.
In 1997 René Schwall became bowman and team partner of Gäbler. They won two further world championships and three European championships as well as a bronze medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney
. In 2001 Gäbler became German head coach of the Deutscher Segler-Verband for the Tornado and 49er
class.
Together with Gunnar Struckmann as bowman Gäbler won the German championship, the Volvo Champions Race and the Kiel Week 2005 - Gäblers fifth success in this competition.
Since 2009 Roland Gäbler has been sailing with his wife Nahid Gäbler. They straightaway won the Travemünde Week and the German championship 2009. In 2010 they won the world championship in Tornado sailing - as first mixed team ever.
Gäbler together with the adventurer and balloonist Steve Fossett
also established a world record in high-speed sailing on the catamaran Playstation (34m length).
In 1995 and 1997 Gäbler was awarded the title German Sailor of the Year as well as two times the award Silbernes Lorbeerblatt
.
Norddeutscher Regatta Verein
Norddeutscher Regatta Verein , roughly meaning "North German Regatta Club", is one of the oldest and most prestigious yacht clubs in Germany. This club is located in Hamburg and is one of the organizers of the Kiel Week together with the Yacht Club of Kiel, the Verein Seglerhaus am Wannsee and the...
as well as in the Kieler Yacht-Club
Kieler Yacht-Club
Kieler Yacht-Club or Kiel Yacht Club , is one of the oldest yacht clubs in Germany. It is located in the harbor city of Kiel.This club is well-known for some of the yacht racing events it organizes...
. He competed in five Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
.
Gäbler grew up in Bremen, where he started sailing on the river Weser. His talent for sailing was advanced by his parents, who bought him an old Laser
Laser (dinghy)
The International Laser Class sailboat, also called Laser Standard and the Laser One is a popular one-design class of small sailing dinghy. According the Laser Class Rules the boat may be sailed by either one or two people, though it is rarely sailed by two. The design, by Bruce Kirby, emphasizes...
. At the age of 14 he competed in his first regatta
Regatta
A regatta is a series of boat races. The term typically describes racing events of rowed or sailed water craft, although some powerboat race series are also called regattas...
, one year later he won his first sailing competition. During his career, Gäbler won two European championships and 14 international Laser championships.
With 23 years Gäbler switched the racing class to catamaran and sailed a Tornado
Tornado (sailboat)
The Tornado is an two person multihull class recognised as an International Class by the International Sailing Federation. It was used for the Olympic Catamaran discpline for over 30 years.-Background:...
, together with his Laser training partner Hans-Jürgen Pfohe. Both competed in the Kiel Week
Kiel Week
Kiel Week is an annual sailing event in Kiel, Germany. It is the largest sailing event in the world, and also one of the largest Volksfest in Europe.- Procedure :...
and qualified straightaway for the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul
Sailing at the 1988 Summer Olympics
Sailing/Yachting is a Olympic sport starting from the Games of the 1st Olympiad . With the exception of 1904 and possible 1916 sailing was always a part of the Olympic program....
, however they won no medal. During the rough regatta Gäbler suffered a fracture of his hand.
Job reasons forced Hans-Jürgen Pfohe to quit sailing in 1989. Frank Parlow became Gäblers new partner. The team won four European Tornado championships and the world championship in 1996 for the first time. But also the cooperation with Parlow was not fruitful: neither at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona
Sailing at the 1992 Summer Olympics
Sailing/Yachting is a Olympic sport starting from the Games of the 1st Olympiad . With the exception of 1904 and possible 1916 sailing was always a part of the Olympic program....
(position 11) nor at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta
Sailing at the 1996 Summer Olympics
Sailing/Yachting is a Olympic sport starting from the Games of the 1st Olympiad . With the exception of 1904 and possible 1916 sailing was always a part of the Olympic program....
(position 7) they could win a medal.
In 1997 René Schwall became bowman and team partner of Gäbler. They won two further world championships and three European championships as well as a bronze medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney
Sailing at the 2000 Summer Olympics
Sailing/Yachting is a Olympic sport starting from the Games of the 1st Olympiad . With the exception of 1904 and possible 1916 sailing was always a part of the Olympic program....
. In 2001 Gäbler became German head coach of the Deutscher Segler-Verband for the Tornado and 49er
49er (dinghy)
The 49er is a double handed twin trapeze skiff type sailing dinghy. The two crew work on different roles with the helm making many tactical decisions, as well as steering, and the crew doing most of the sail control. The design, by Julian Bethwaite, the son of Frank Bethwaite , is revolutionary...
class.
Together with Gunnar Struckmann as bowman Gäbler won the German championship, the Volvo Champions Race and the Kiel Week 2005 - Gäblers fifth success in this competition.
Since 2009 Roland Gäbler has been sailing with his wife Nahid Gäbler. They straightaway won the Travemünde Week and the German championship 2009. In 2010 they won the world championship in Tornado sailing - as first mixed team ever.
Gäbler together with the adventurer and balloonist Steve Fossett
Steve Fossett
James Stephen Fossett was an American commodities trader, businessman, and adventurer. Fossett is the first person to fly solo nonstop around the world in a balloon...
also established a world record in high-speed sailing on the catamaran Playstation (34m length).
In 1995 and 1997 Gäbler was awarded the title German Sailor of the Year as well as two times the award Silbernes Lorbeerblatt
Silbernes Lorbeerblatt
The Silberne Lorbeerblatt is the highest sports award in Germany. It had been endowed on June 23, 1950 by the German President Theodor Heuss. It is awarded to athletes and teams if they placed several times at international championships. Furthermore, the honoree also has to have an exemplary...
.