New grinder strengthens Team Germany

by Oliver Laskowsky on 1 Dec 2006 Once more the 'engine' of the German yacht has built up its power for the races of next year´s 32nd America´s Cup. With former German world class shot putter Oliver-Sven Buder, another 'power-pack' works at the grinders of the United Internet Team Germany.

Four months before the crucial regatta off the coast of Valencia, the sailing crew of the German America´s Cup campaign now numbers 27 men.

'Training with the team – whether it's on the water or ashore – is just so much fun and I hope to give the team a lot', the 41-year old Buder says.

Three years after the end of his career as a track and field athlete he is now looking forward to a new sports challenge in the highest level of sailing, the America´s Cup.

He participated in the Olympics in 1996 and 2000, became vice world champion in 1997 and 1999, European vice champion in 1998 and European champion in the junior division in 1985. He started for the clubs SC Karl-Marx-Stadt/Chemnitz, TV Wattenscheid and MTV Ingolstadt.

Oliver-Sven Buder was born in Steinheidel-Erlabrunn in Saxonia on the 23rd of June 1966. After the end of his career in the shot put he settled down in Cuxhaven with his partner and two children (11 and 13 years old). Educated as an industrial sales representative and sports manager, Buder now works as a self employed event manager.

Buder's first contact with the United Internet Team Germany happened during his visit to the German Sailing Grand Prix in Kiel last August. Only two months later, skipper Jesper Bank and his team welcomed Buder as a team member. Bank feels that Buder will really strengthen his team: 'He obviously improves our performance at the grinders with his power. Furthermore his experience in weight training and his advice are valuable for every one of us.'

On board an America´s Cup yacht, grinders are responsible for hoisting and trimming the sails by using their muscle-power at the so-called 'coffee-grinders'. Oliver-Sven Buder is now going to deploy all of his 135 kilos of power distributed over 1,99 meters of body height in order to gear up the 'engine' aboard Germany I.