Maximilian Reinelt

{{Infobox sportsperson

| name = Maximilian Reinelt

| image = Ruder-EM 2016 74 (cropped).JPG

| caption = Reinelt in 2016

| birth_date = {{birth date|1988|8|24|df=y}}

| birth_place = Ulm, West Germany

| death_date = {{death date and age|2019|2|9|1988|8|24|df=y}}

| death_place = St. Moritz, Switzerland

| headercolor = lightsteelblue

| show-medals = yes

| medaltemplates =

{{MedalCountry|{{GER}}}}

}}

Maximilian Reinelt (24 August 1988 – 9 February 2019) was a German rower and physician. He won a gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics, and a silver medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics, as well as two World Championships and four European Championships. In 2016, he was awarded the Silbernes Lorbeerblatt, Germany's highest sports award.

Career

Reneilt started rowing for Germany as a junior in 2006.{{cite news| url= https://www.welt.de/sport/article188603891/Maximilian-Reinelt-Ploetzlich-brach-der-Olympiasieger-tot-zusammen.html| title= Plötzlich brach der Olympiasieger zusammen|language=de| work=Die Welt| date=11 February 2019| access-date=11 February 2019}} He finished second in three U23 World Championship events. In 2010, he was promoted to the senior boat by coach {{ill|Ralf Holtmeyer|de}}.

Reinelt was part of the team that won the gold medal in the men's eight competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.{{cite news| url= https://www.bild.de/regional/ruhrgebiet/ruhrgebiet-aktuell/maximilian-reinelt-30-tot-ruder-olympiasieger-stirbt-beim-skifahren-60078992.bild.html| title= Gold-Held Reinelt stirbt beim Ski-Langlauf| language=de| work=Bild| date=11 February 2019| access-date=11 February 2019}} It was Germany's first gold medal in the event since 1988. He also won gold in the men's eight at the 2010{{Cite web|url=http://www.worldrowing.com/events/2010-world-championships/mens-eight/final/|title=2010 WORLD ROWING CHAMPIONSHIPS – Karapiro, NZL – (M8+) Men's Eight – Final|date=7 November 2010|website=www.worldrowing.com|language=en-US|access-date=5 September 2017}} and 2011 World Championships{{Cite web|url=http://www.worldrowing.com/events/2011-world-championships/mens-eight/final/|title=2011 WORLD ROWING CHAMPIONSHIPS – Bled, SLO -(M8+) Men's Eight – Final|date=1 September 2011|website=www.worldrowing.com|language=en-US|access-date=5 September 2017}} and the 2013,{{Cite web|url=http://www.worldrowing.com/events/2013-european-championships/mens-eight/final/|title=2013 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS – Seville, ESP – (M8+) Men's Eight – Final|date=2 June 2013|website=www.worldrowing.com|language=en-US|access-date=5 September 2017}} 2014,{{Cite web|url=http://www.worldrowing.com/events/2014-european-championships/mens-eight/final/|title=2014 EUROPEAN ROWING CHAMPIONSHIPS – Belgrade, SRB – (M8+) Men's Eight – Final|date=1 June 2014|website=www.worldrowing.com|language=en-US|access-date=5 September 2017}} 2015,{{Cite web|url=http://www.worldrowing.com/events/2015-european-rowing-championships/mens-eight/final/|title=2015 EUROPEAN ROWING CHAMPIONSHIPS – Poznan, POL – (M8+) Men's Eight – Final|date=31 May 2015|website=www.worldrowing.com|language=en-US|access-date=5 September 2017}} and 2016 European Championships,{{Cite web|url=http://www.worldrowing.com/events/2016-european-rowing-championships/mens-eight/final/|title=2016 EUROPEAN ROWING CHAMPIONSHIPS -Brandenburg, GER – (M8+) Men's Eight – Final|date=8 May 2016|website=www.worldrowing.com|language=en-US|access-date=5 September 2017}} and silver at the 2013,{{cite news| url= https://www.swp.de/sport/weitere-sportarten/rudern_-maximilian-reinelt-wird-mit-achter-europameister-19158591.html| title= Rudern: Maximilian Reinelt wird mit Achter Europameister|language=de| work=Südwest Presse| date=3 June 2013| access-date=11 February 2019}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.worldrowing.com/events/2013-world-championships/mens-eight/final/|title=2013 WORLD ROWING CHAMPIONSHIPS – Chungju, KOR – (M8+) Men's Eight – Final|date=1 September 2013|website=www.worldrowing.com|language=en-US|access-date=5 September 2017}} 2014,{{Cite web|url=http://www.worldrowing.com/events/2014-world-rowing-championships/mens-eight/final/|title=2014 WORLD ROWING CHAMPIONSHIPS – Amsterdam, NED – (M8+) Men's Eight – Final|date=31 August 2014|website=www.worldrowing.com|language=en-US|access-date=5 September 2017}} and 2015 World Championships.{{Cite web|url=http://www.worldrowing.com/events/2015-world-rowing-championships/mens-eight/final/|title=2015 WORLD ROWING CHAMPIONSHIPS – Aiguebelette, FRA – (M8+) Men's Eight – Final|date=6 September 2015|website=www.worldrowing.com|language=en-US|access-date=5 September 2017}} He was also part of a German team that won a record 36 consecutive races. At the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, he competed as part of Germany's men's eight team which won the silver medal.{{cite news |title=Maximilian Reinelt: Former Olympic rowing champion dies aged 30 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rowing/47200272 |access-date=11 February 2019 |agency=BBC}} The eight rowers were awarded the Silbernes Lorbeerblatt (Silver Laurel Leaf), Germany's highest sports award, for their achievement.{{cite news| url= https://www.dw.com/en/german-rowing-eights-maximilian-reinelt-dies-while-skiing/a-47462568| title= German rowing eight's Maximilian Reinelt dies while skiing| work=Deutsche Welle| date=11 February 2019| access-date=11 February 2019}}{{cite web| url= http://www.bundespraesident.de/SharedDocs/Berichte/DE/Joachim-Gauck/2016/11/161101-Silbernes-Lorbeerblatt.html?nn=1890894| title= Verleihung des Silbernen Lorbeerblattes| language=de| work=Office of the President of Germany| date=1 November 2016| access-date=11 February 2019}} It was Reinelt's second such award having been similarly recognised for his 2012 Olympic gold.{{Cite web |url=https://rc-bergedorf.de/index.php/berichte-ueber-ruderregatten/leistunssport/2012/267-eric-vom-bundespraesidenten-ausgezeichnet |title=2012 Eight awarded Silver Laurel Leaf |access-date=6 July 2021 |archive-date=5 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205193212/https://rc-bergedorf.de/index.php/berichte-ueber-ruderregatten/leistunssport/2012/267-eric-vom-bundespraesidenten-ausgezeichnet |url-status=dead }}

After the 2016 Olympics, Reinelt retired to focus on studying medicine in Bochum.{{cite news| url= https://www.sueddeutsche.de/panorama/maximilian-reinelt-tot-1.4325790| title= Ruder-Olympiasieger stirbt beim Langlaufen|language=de| work=Süddeutsche Zeitung| date=11 February 2019| access-date=11 February 2019}}{{cite news| url= https://www.swr.de/sport/rudern-ulm-olympiasieger-reinelt-beendet-karriere/-/id=1208948/did=18854728/nid=1208948/1paxkc5/index.html| title= Olympiasieger Reinelt beendet Karriere|language=de| work=Südwestrundfunk| date=19 January 2017| access-date=11 February 2019}} He was one of three rowers from the German 2016 Olympic team who retired after the Games, the others being Andreas Kuffner and Maximilian Munski. In early 2019, Reinelt became doctor of the Germany U23 rowing squad. He had been scheduled to attend their rowing camp in Mequinenza, Spain.

Death

On 9 February 2019, Reinelt died whilst skiing in St. Moritz, Switzerland, with his fiancée.{{cite news| url=http://www.espn.in/olympics/story/_/id/25972346/olympic-champion-rower-maximilian-reinelt-germany-dies-30| title= Olympic champion rower Maximilian Reinelt of Germany dies at 30|agency=Associated Press| via=ESPN| date=11 February 2019| access-date=11 February 2019}} Resuscitation attempts failed, and his death was announced by Graubuenden police. Speaking about Reinelt's death, IOC president Thomas Bach said "Maximilian Reinelt is one of the great athletes of German rowing and beyond that a very likeable person, who has managed to combine competitive sports and his vocational training as a doctor with great success." According to the autopsy, Reinelt was suffering from Sarcoidosis, which remained asymptomatic. The Sarcoidosis was responsible for the Arrhythmia, that caused sudden cardiac death.[https://www.schwaebische.de/landkreis/alb-donau-kreis/ulm_artikel,-obduktionsergebnis-liegt-vor-daran-starb-der-ulmer-olympiasieger-maximilian-reinelt-_arid,11036808.html Obduktionsergebnis liegt vor – daran starb der Ulmer Olympiasieger Maximilian Reinelt]