Viola Brand
{{Short description|German artistic cyclist (born 1994)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox cyclist
| name = Viola Brand
| image = Viola Brand artistic cycling Violalovescycling.jpg
| caption = Viola Brand doing a handstand in 2019
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1994|6|28}}
| birth_place = Backnang, Germany
| currentteam = Retired
| discipline = Artistic cycling
| role = Single
| majorwins = German Champion (2017)
European Champion (2018)
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalCountry|{{DEU}}}}
{{MedalSport|Single artistic cycling}}
{{MedalCompetition|World Championships}}
{{MedalSilver|2016 Stuttgart|Women Elite}}
{{MedalSilver|2017 Dornbirn|Women Elite}}
{{MedalSilver|2019 Basel|Women Elite}}
{{MedalCompetition|European Championships}}
{{MedalGold|2018 Wiesbaden|Women Elite}}
| show-medals = yes
}}
Viola Brand (born 28 June 1994{{cite news |last1=Grün |first1=Steffen |title=Viola Brand verlässt Wettkampfbühne |url=https://www.bkz.de/sport/viola-brand-verlaesst-wettkampfbuehne-63841.html |work=Backnanger Kreiszeitung |date=14 February 2020 |language=de |access-date=9 February 2021 |archive-date=15 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215173433/https://www.bkz.de/sport/viola-brand-verlaesst-wettkampfbuehne-63841.html |url-status=live }}) is a German cyclist specialising in artistic cycling. She has won national and European championships twice each, and the silver medal three times in the World Championships.
Personal life
Brand was born in Backnang, Germany.{{cite web |title=Steckbrief Viola Brand |url=https://www.deutsche-bank.de/ms/hoechstleistung/athleten/viola-brand.html |publisher=Deutsche Bank |access-date=26 March 2021 |language=de}} She tried to climb the training bike as early as 5 years old, then still failing to reach the pedals. Her elder brother did artistic cycling before her, and both he and Brand were coached by their mother.{{cite news |last1=Rainer |first1=Rainer |title=Hallenradsport-WM: Schon mit fünf Jahren aufs Rad geklettert |url=https://www.swp.de/suedwesten/staedte/stuttgart/schon-mit-fuenf-jahren-aufs-rad-geklettert-23231177.html |work=Südwest Presse |date=2 December 2016 |language=de |access-date=9 February 2021 |archive-date=15 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215173350/https://www.swp.de/suedwesten/staedte/stuttgart/schon-mit-fuenf-jahren-aufs-rad-geklettert-23231177.html |url-status=live }} She started training artistic cycling at 6 years old.{{cite interview|last=Brand|first=Viola|title=Meeting Viola Brand|url=https://www.welovecycling.com/wide/2018/07/31/artistic-cycling-and-sense-of-freedom-meet-viola-brand/|work=We love cycling|publisher=Škoda Auto|date=31 July 2018|access-date=25 January 2021|archive-date=30 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130061000/https://www.welovecycling.com/wide/2018/07/31/artistic-cycling-and-sense-of-freedom-meet-viola-brand/|url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=Mayer |first1=Isabel |title=RTL-Serie: Kunstradfahrerin aus Schorndorf will Supertalent werden |url=https://www.stuttgarter-nachrichten.de/inhalt.rtl-serie-kunstradfahrerin-aus-schorndorf-will-supertalent-werden.dcf48c9a-e4d7-4f12-8964-12247c0cda4c.html |access-date=15 February 2021 |work=Stuttgarter Nachrichten |date=17 November 2018 |language=de |archive-date=7 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807122718/https://www.stuttgarter-nachrichten.de/inhalt.rtl-serie-kunstradfahrerin-aus-schorndorf-will-supertalent-werden.dcf48c9a-e4d7-4f12-8964-12247c0cda4c.html |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Jost |first1=Klaus-Eckhard |title=Kunstradfahrerin Viola Brand: Sich aus der Nische strampeln |url=https://taz.de/Kunstradfahrerin-Viola-Brand/!5505626/ |access-date=15 February 2021 |work=taz |date=27 May 2018 |language=de |archive-date=18 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190618091725/http://www.taz.de/Kunstradfahrerin-Viola-Brand/!5505626/ |url-status=live }}
Brand is studying clinical nutrition at Hohenheim University, Stuttgart.{{cite news |title=RTL-Show "Das Supertalent": Kunstradfahrerin aus Schorndorf schafft es nicht ins Finale |url=https://www.stuttgarter-nachrichten.de/inhalt.rtl-show-das-supertalent-kunstradfahrerin-aus-schorndorf-schafft-es-nicht-ins-finale.4a425b9a-8cc0-4a8b-8f98-ad2b7253ed0a.html |work=Stuttgarter Nachrichten |date=23 December 2018 |language=de |access-date=9 February 2021 |archive-date=12 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812025358/https://www.stuttgarter-nachrichten.de/inhalt.rtl-show-das-supertalent-kunstradfahrerin-aus-schorndorf-schafft-es-nicht-ins-finale.4a425b9a-8cc0-4a8b-8f98-ad2b7253ed0a.html |url-status=live }} {{As of|2021|2}}, she is writing the thesis for her master's degree.{{cite news |last1=Flegel |first1=Uwe |title=Viola Brand und ihr Wahnsinn mit der NBA |url=https://www.murrhardter-zeitung.de/nachrichten/viola-brand-und-ihr-wahnsinn-mit-der-nba-96369.html |access-date=15 February 2021 |work=Murrhardter Zeitung |date=9 February 2021 |language=de}}
Professional career
File:Viola Brand Worldchampionship.jpg
Brand's sports club is RSV Unterweissach (located in Weissach im Tal).{{cite news |title=Viola Brand holt sich den Europameister-Titel |url=http://www.rsvu.de/bericht/viola-brand-holt-sich-den-europameister-titel-794 |author=Gunter |publisher=Radsportverein Unterweissach e.V. 1905 |date=27 May 2012 |language=de |access-date=9 February 2021 |archive-date=12 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210212231927/http://www.rsvu.de/bericht/viola-brand-holt-sich-den-europameister-titel-794 |url-status=live }}
She joined the German national sports team at the age of 15, and won the Junior European Championships in 2012.
She set a world record at the European Junior Championships in 2011 in her age group,{{cite news |title=Viola Brand mit Weltrekord bei 1. Junior-Masters sowie 1. und 2. EM-Qualifikation und 1. C-Kader-Sichtung |author=Gunter |url=http://www.rsvu.de/bericht/viola-brand-mit-weltrekord-bei-1-junior-masters-sowie-1-und-2-em-qualifikation-und-1-c-kader |access-date=15 February 2021 |work=www.rsvu.de |date=12 April 2011 |language=de |archive-date=22 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210222140050/http://www.rsvu.de/bericht/viola-brand-mit-weltrekord-bei-1-junior-masters-sowie-1-und-2-em-qualifikation-und-1-c-kader |url-status=live }} and another world record at the regular European Championships in 2018.{{cite news |last1=Schwarz |first1=Wilfried |title=EM-Gold mit neuem Weltrekord geholt |url=https://www.bkz.de/sport/em-gold-mit-neuem-weltrekord-geholt-130.html |access-date=15 February 2021 |work=Backnanger Kreiszeitung |date=4 June 2018 |language=de |archive-date=22 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210222140018/https://www.bkz.de/sport/em-gold-mit-neuem-weltrekord-geholt-130.html |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Klingler |first1=Daniela |title=EM Elite: Weltrekord für Viola Brand! |url=https://www.wrsv.de/hallenradsport/kunstrad/27-kunstrad/1550-em-elite-weltrekord-fuer-viola-brand |access-date=15 February 2021 |publisher=Württembergischer Radsportverband e.V. |archive-date=22 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210222140018/https://www.wrsv.de/hallenradsport/kunstrad/27-kunstrad/1550-em-elite-weltrekord-fuer-viola-brand |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Miedelsbacherin mit Weltrekord zum EM-Titel |url=https://www.zvw.de/sport/rems-murr-sport/miedelsbacherin-mit-weltrekord-zum-em-titel_arid-69337 |access-date=15 February 2021 |work=ZVW |publisher=Zeitungsverlag Waiblingen |date=3 June 2018 |language=de |archive-date=22 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210222140018/https://www.zvw.de/sport/rems-murr-sport/miedelsbacherin-mit-weltrekord-zum-em-titel_arid-69337 |url-status=live }} Her best personal score was 194.71 points in German Masters 2019.{{cite news |title=Ergebnisliste |trans-title=Results list |url=https://mail.hallenradsport-daum.de/Ergebnisse/Ergebnisse_Kunstrad/0000000793.pdf |language=de|work=BDR|access-date=5 April 2021}}
Brand spent years perfecting her choreography and learning new stunts. It took her seven years of training to be able to do a handstand on the handlebar,{{cite news |last1=Butschek |first1=Isabelle |title=Radsport im Rems-Murr-Kreis: Künstler auf einem und zwei Rädern |url=https://www.stuttgarter-nachrichten.de/inhalt.radsport-im-rems-murr-kreis-kuenstler-auf-einem-und-zwei-raedern.24020699-bff9-43df-a65b-feea9e368037.html |access-date=22 February 2021 |work=Stuttgarter Nachrichten |date=11 January 2018 |language=de}} the stunt Brand is most proud of,{{cite interview |last=Brand |first=Viola |interviewer-last=Yeager |interviewer-first=Selene |title=This Mind-Blowing Artistic Cyclist Is Stronger Than a Tour de France Rider! |url=https://www.bicycling.com/training/a24174109/stunt-cycling-viola-brand/ |access-date=22 February 2021 |work=Bicycling |date=2 November 2018 |archive-date=30 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130023741/https://www.bicycling.com/training/a24174109/stunt-cycling-viola-brand/ |url-status=live }} and in June 2019 she was able to perform a Maute jump for the first time, jumping from the saddle to the handlebars.{{cite news |last1=Schwarz |first1=Wilfried |title=Viola Brand gewinnt nach gelungenem Mautesprung |url=https://www.bkz.de/sport/viola-brand-gewinnt-nach-gelungenem-mautesprung-28858.html |access-date=22 February 2021 |work=Backnanger Kreiszeitung |date=26 June 2019 |language=de}}
Brand participated in a total of five World Championships, missing qualification in 2018{{cite news |last1=Schwarz |first1=Wilfried |title=Fünfter Anlauf auf das erste WM-Gold |url=https://www.bkz.de/sport/fuenfter-anlauf-auf-das-erste-wm-gold-53452.html |access-date=22 February 2021 |work=Backnanger Kreiszeitung |date=5 December 2019 |language=de |archive-date=22 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210222140052/https://www.bkz.de/sport/fuenfter-anlauf-auf-das-erste-wm-gold-53452.html |url-status=live }} after a competition which German national coach {{ill|Dieter Maute|de}} called "very hard".{{cite news |title=Viola Brand kämpft um WM-Teilnahme |url=https://www.zvw.de/sport/rems-murr-sport/viola-brand-k%C3%A4mpft-um-wm-teilnahme_arid-64264 |access-date=22 February 2021 |work=ZVW |publisher=Zeitungsverlag Waiblingen |date=6 September 2018 |language=de |archive-date=22 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210222140022/https://www.zvw.de/sport/rems-murr-sport/viola-brand-k%C3%A4mpft-um-wm-teilnahme_arid-64264 |url-status=live }} Since each nation can only send two participants, Brand stated that "qualification is much harder than winning a medal at the World Championships".
Brand uses a special belt-driven bicycle, and her motto, inscribed on the toothed belt, is {{lang|de|"Du musst den Kampf mehr lieben als den Sieg"}} ("You have to love the fight more than the victory").
Her last official competition was in Basel at the World Championships in December 2019, where she won a silver medal, making it her third Vice Championship. In February 2020 she announced her retirement, although she continues to perform for exhibitions and to promote her sport.{{cite news|title=Artistic cycling: A wave of departures and arrivals|url=https://www.uci.org/news/2020/artistic-cycling-a-wave-of-departures-and-arrivals|publisher=UCI|date=21 February 2020|access-date=25 January 2021|archive-date=30 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130045210/https://www.uci.org/news/2020/artistic-cycling-a-wave-of-departures-and-arrivals|url-status=live}} Brand hopes to someday see artistic cycling become one of the Olympic sports.
Statistics
=Personal best=
Her best results, according to data from the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and German Cycling Federation (BDR):
Other activities
File:Viola Brand artistic cycling (cropped).jpg
In 2017, Brand started an Instagram account after a friend suggested it, and by July 2018 had gathered over 100k followers. {{As of|2021|2}}, she has almost 400k followers. Her channel piqued the interest of staff from The Ellen DeGeneres Show, which Brand used to watch to improve her English skills, and in February 2020 she was a guest in the show.{{cite news|title=You need a lot of courage|last=Alderman|first=Elgan|url=https://www.thetimes.com/sport/cycling/article/you-need-a-lot-of-courage-it-is-dangerous-welcome-to-artistic-cycling-7zt829nlm|work=The Times|date=6 March 2020|url-access=subscription|access-date=24 January 2021|archive-date=29 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210129204503/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/you-need-a-lot-of-courage-it-is-dangerous-welcome-to-artistic-cycling-7zt829nlm|url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=Götz |first1=Sina |title=Kunstradfahrerin Viola Brand: Schorndorferin verzückt Ellen DeGeneres |url=https://www.stuttgarter-zeitung.de/inhalt.kunstradfahrerin-viola-brand-schorndorferin-verzueckt-ellen-degeneres.0fa9ccd7-b0fa-4ce5-93a3-8ad380f5ee29.html |work=Stuttgarter Zeitung |date=2 March 2020 |language=de |access-date=24 January 2021 |archive-date=28 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728104955/https://www.stuttgarter-zeitung.de/inhalt.kunstradfahrerin-viola-brand-schorndorferin-verzueckt-ellen-degeneres.0fa9ccd7-b0fa-4ce5-93a3-8ad380f5ee29.html |url-status=live }} In 2018, she participated in the talent show Das Supertalent but failed to reach the final. In 2019, she toured with the show {{lang|de|Feuerwerk der Turnkunst}} through 22 cities in Germany, with her performance being lauded.{{cite news |last1=Kowalewski |first1=Martin |title=Kraftvoll und schön |url=https://www.kreiszeitung.de/lokales/bremen/bremen-feuerwerk-turnkunst-begeistert-13000-zuschauer-13380421.html |access-date=22 February 2021 |work=Kreiszeitung |date=30 December 2019 |language=de |archive-date=31 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231193802/https://www.kreiszeitung.de/lokales/bremen/bremen-feuerwerk-turnkunst-begeistert-13000-zuschauer-13380421.html |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Viola Brand fasziniert mit Balance auf dem Fahrrad |url=https://www.harzkurier.de/sport/lokalsport/article226645071/Viola-Brand-fasziniert-mit-Balance-auf-dem-Fahrrad.html |access-date=22 February 2021 |work=Harzkurier |publisher=Funke Mediengruppe |date=31 July 2019 |language=de-DE |archive-date=22 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210222140048/https://www.harzkurier.de/sport/lokalsport/article226645071/Viola-Brand-fasziniert-mit-Balance-auf-dem-Fahrrad.html |url-status=live }}
After her February 2020 retirement from professional sports, Brand announced that she would like to focus on appearances in shows and her social media.
In early 2021, she signed a contract with the Golden State Warriors to perform during the halftime show, virtually at first due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic; in early 2022 she performed live during several NBA halftime shows.{{cite news |last1=Weingand |first1=Phillip |title=Kunstradfahrerin aus Schorndorf: Viola Brand begeistert die NBA-Fans |url=https://www.stuttgarter-nachrichten.de/inhalt.kunstradfahrerin-aus-schorndorf-viola-brand-begeistert-die-nba-fans.e9de339e-b28b-40d8-bdbe-da64737f4662.html |access-date=18 May 2022 |work=Stuttgarter Nachrichten |date=24 March 2022 |language=de}} In July 2021, the Stuttgarter Zeitung reported on an underwater photography session featuring Brand with her bicycle.{{cite news |last1=Weingand |first1=Phillip |title=Influencerin Viola Brand: Mit dem Kunstrad unter Wasser |url=https://www.stuttgarter-zeitung.de/inhalt.influencerin-viola-brand-mit-dem-kunstrad-unter-wasser.9b168e4f-b2a2-467f-8a53-0cda2595f49d.html?reduced=true |access-date=18 May 2022 |work=Stuttgarter Zeitung |date=14 July 2021 |language=de |url-access=subscription}} In May 2022, she was featured in a video by Danny MacAskill.{{cite news |last1=Fotheringham |first1=Ann |title=Daredevil Danny's bike stunts in Glasgow are part of new film |url=https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/20128821.daredevil-danny-macaskills-bike-stunts-glasgow-part-new-film/ |access-date=18 May 2022 |work=Glasgow Times |date=11 May 2022 |language=en}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category-inline|Viola Brand}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Brand, Viola}}