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On Saturday, (September 27, 2003,) 9,612 inline skaters started off an
unbelievable sporting weekend in the German capital. The signs of the times
were recognised, and the organisational crew around Horst and Mark Milde made
an independent MARATHON race come true for the inline skaters within the
framework of the 30th real,- BERLIN MARATHON. Optimal conditions greeted not
only the 150 best skaters in the world, but also accompanied the record number
of almost 10,000 skaters on their sightseeing tour through Berlin. With the new
course changes, they also enjoyed the start and finish at the Brandenburg Gate.
In addition to the obligatory highlights “Wilder Eber“, Potsdamer
Platz, and An der Urania, this year also included
Ernst–Reuter–Platz, the government district, the
Friedrichstadtpalast, the Gendarmenmarkt, the foreign ministry, the Rote
Rathaus, the Lustgarten and the final stretch down the grand boulevard Unter
den Linden.
One look at the starting line-up promised that there could be a fast time.
It again included the whole palate of international team skaters, as well as
the top of the German speed skating scene.
At 4 p.m. sharp, the huge field of inline skaters was sent off by the
Secretary of Sport, Thomas Härtel. The teams attacked from the start,
which by the halfway mark showed that the final time was going to be fast. At 5
p.m., about 80 skaters stormed past the State Opera (Staatsoper) and the
Humboldt University towards the Brandenburg Gate. At the end, the
Saab–Salomon–Team International was best at launching their man and
last years champion, Juan Carlos Betancur, who won at Pariser Platz ahead of
his teammate Massimilliano Presti and Diego Rosero (Hyper). The winning time
was 1:02:03, which clearly shows that the hour limit once again fell victim to
the various team tactics. The best German skater was again Christoph
Zschätzsch from Gross Gera (Team Fila International) in 16th place. Also
from Gera, Nico Widuwilt (Team Rollerblade Germany) and Toni Deubner (Team Fila
Germany) were able to hold their own against the international elite, which was
impressively demonstrated with their 17th and 25th place finishes.
In the womens race, the US–American, Julie Glass, ( Powerslide Team)
had the fastest legs at the end and won with a time of 1:11:28h. The best
German women on this day were the Neuling sisters, Michaela (Team Rollerblade
Germany) in 15th and Franziska (Team Fila Germany) in 16th place. While in
previous years there were only a few spectators out so early on the MARATHON
course to watch the inline skaters, this time about 200,000 enthusiastic
Berliners and their guests lined the streets and gave this dynamic sport its
deserving support. Once again the organisation around Horst Milde has proven
that they are determined to satisfy the interests of the ever-growing number of
speed skaters. One can only hope that the other cities like Hamburg, Cologne,
or Frankfurt will follow this example and also give the skaters their own
platform.
And even if some of the representatives from the media, the government, and
the economy do not seem to recognise the potential that this sport has, tens of
thousands of wheels will be certain to heat up the Berlin asphalt again next
year on September 25, at the 31st real,- BERLIN MARATHON. THANK YOU HORST AND
MARK ! Mike Saft