The older, the Boll, we will probably soon say as a proverb. Because it's hard to get any "older" than what Timo Boll showed at the table tennis world championships. Almost 41 years old, his abdominal muscle injured, and yet in the end only a razor-thin defeat in the World Championship semi-finals against a Swede only half his age. That's great! And for us aging amateur athletes, Germany's table tennis legend has left behind a piece of wisdom that we want to apply in a modified form in the future. Boll said, "when you're in a World Cup semi-final, you just go for it, give it your all and then look afterwards to see where your body parts are". That can be modified - to district league football, the fight against winter fat, the race with the children.
If it weren't for Jonas Deichmannthe barber might have thrown him out: As shaggy as a man looks after 14 months without a shave and haircut, he entered a Munich hair salon after returning from his first triathlon around the world. The hairdresser brought back to normal what was allowed to grow during one of the greatest adventures of recent times. What this wild beard could tell: Deichmann reported that the beard kept the jellyfish away from his mouth while swimming, or the snow while cycling through Siberia. The beard is trimmed - but now the 34-year-old is allowed to tell his story everywhere. About a tour that took him over 120 Ironman distances, a good 450 kilometres through the water, 21,000 kilometres on the bike and more than 5,000 kilometres running around the world. And about his plans for the future. Because allegedly he has already cooked up another adventure, writes the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung".
Luxury and sporty lightness - does that go together? At least it is worth the now launched attempt. The company Moncler from the French Alps, which stands for luxurious fashion products, has now launched a sports shoe together with Hoka. The label, founded by athletes - also in France - aims to improve their speed. The joint Mafate Speed 2 trail running shoe is now an exciting combination of the two corporate mentalities.
Where on TV is the Davis Cup again? Finally, finally, after many, many years, there is reason for German tennis fans to ask this question again. Even without superstar Alexander Zverev, the German team made it back to the semi-finals of the legendary team competition after 14 years. Well, a fever like in the days of Michael Stich, Michael Westphal or Boris Becker has not yet gripped the country. But Jan-Lennard Struff and the doubles team of Kevin Krawietz and Tim Pütz also impressed in their victory over Great Britain. If you want to tune in in the future: Austrian Servus TV now shows the former street sweeper. Perhaps with success comes a return to the big TV stage.
Whether or not she'll be able to handle the male bickering over the "Ballon d'Or" amused her? For us, Alexia Putellas, the winner of the "Ballon d ' Or", was a real eye-opener.'Or Feminin", was the beaming queen of the gala for the world footballers' award. While Robert Lewandowski's fans were going after Lionel Messi's supposedly unfair choice like amateurs from the county league, the 27-year-old exuded feminine class. "This is an individual award, but it wouldn't have been possible without my team," said the FC Barcelona player. She is likely to have touched more than just other fathers with her thanks to her late father: "I hope you are proud of your daughter. That's why this is for you too, dad."
He is only a small fan of the supposedly great FC Bayern. But in the dispute over the Qatar sponsorship, Michael Ott has shown the club's officials what a club should stand for: for honesty, passion and greatness in interpersonal dealings. Because while the Bayern officials still had to sort themselves out after the turbulent AGM, the fan was already holding out his hand. "This can't be a permanent state now, that the fronts harden so much," Ott told the "Sportschau". The Bayern bosses around Herbert Hainer, Oliver Kahn and Co. are to be wished that they understand this.
The golf world has been waiting for this news: Superstar Tiger Woods announces his comeback - on a part-time basis. Nine months after his serious car accident, the 15-time Major winner in steel blue shirt and black pants gave an interview to the magazine "Golf Digest". The 45-year-old's right leg is still not fully fit, which is why he wants to return to the golf course part-time. In the future, Tiger Woods will play a few tournaments throughout the year. "I think that's how I'm going to have to play from now on. It's an unfortunate reality, but it's my reality. I understand that and I accept that," the pro said.