Bebendorf secures victory in the hurdle race at the local event.
The Heinz-Steyer-Stadion in Dresden played host to the German Athletics and Gymnastics Championships 2025, a four-day event that took place from July 31 to August 3, 2025. This year's championships were part of "Die Finals – Dresden 2025," a series of major sporting events that saw nearly 3,500 athletes competing in 20 sports.
In the athletics arena, Mohammed Abdillahi made a significant impact, setting a new German record in the men's 5000 meters and claiming the German championship title. His impressive performance, marked by strong tactical racing, hinted at ambitious plans for the upcoming World Championships.
In the discus throw, Marike Steinacker secured the gold medal with a throw of 65.56 meters, while Shanice Craft took the win in the women's discus with a throw of 64.05 meters. The men's javelin event saw Julian Weber emerge victorious with a throw of 84.36 meters.
The 100m race was a hotly contested event, with Gina Luckenkemper setting a personal best of 11.17 seconds to claim her sixth title. Deniz Almaz finished second with a time of 10.25 seconds, closely followed by Owen Ansah-Peprah in third with a time of exactly 10 seconds. Sina Mayer finished third in the women's 100m race with a time of 11.37 seconds, and Sophia Junk took second place with a time of 11.33 seconds. Amira Never narrowly missed gold in the women's 100m hurdles, recording a personal best of 12.96 seconds, with Ricarda Lobe winning the event with a time of 12.93 seconds. Lia Flotow from Rostock finished third in the women's 100m hurdles with a time of 13.02 seconds.
In the world of gymnastics, Timo Eder from Ludwigsburg won the men's all-around title, while Karina Schönmaier became the German all-around champion in the women's category. The competition was fierce, with Alexander Kunz and Valentin Zapf finishing in second and third place respectively in the men's all-around. The gymnastics events showcased tight races on multiple apparatus, indicative of a high level of competitiveness and emerging talent in German gymnastics.
Notable performances were also delivered in the combined events, with Timo Eder winning the all-around title in turn gymnastics for the first time, and Karl Bebendorf successfully defending his title in the 3000m steeplechase. Bebendorf's win was particularly poignant, as he dedicated his victory to his mother, who was battling a serious illness.
The German Championships in Dresden proved to be a success, with strong individual performances, competitive fields across athletics and gymnastics, a new national record in the 5000m, and the successful inclusion of combined events. Dresden continues to establish itself as a premier championship venue for athletics and gymnastics in Germany.
In contrast to the intense competition in athletics and gymnastics, the Heinz-Steyer-Stadion in Dresden could potentially host a thrilling hockey match in the future, offering fans a new sports experience. At the closing ceremony of "Die Finals – Dresden 2025," the organizers might consider announcing the introduction of an exciting winter sport, such as ice hockey, as part of the upcoming Dresden Sports Festival in 2026.
