The world champion

It’s Friday, and the last university class of the week is over. For Amelie Köhler, this means it’s time to switch roles. The 20‑year-old is going to her hometown of Einbeck to train with the Dream Team, her artistic skating club, over the weekend. On Monday morning, she will be commuting back: Amelie has been studying sports engineering at Clausthal University of Technology since winter semester 2019, one of the first students of the program. “There are only a very few universities that offer this or a similar degree program, and I also absolutely wanted to stay in Lower Saxony,” Amelie says. She would like to stay in this part of Germany because of her hobby.

Artistic roller skating is more than just a hobby for Amelie. For nine years now, she has been practicing her favorite sport. Her dearest ambition was always to join the Dream Team, Germany’s most successful artistic roller skaters. Three years ago, that dream came true, and she got the chance to become part of the team. “Thanks to all the time we spend together, the team has become an important part of my life,” Amelie says.

With that team, which comprises a total of 20 roller skaters from across Lower Saxony, she won the German championship, the European championship and – the climax – the world championship in Barcelona in 2019. After that golden season, the Dream Team was voted Lower Saxony’s 2019 Team of the Year. The vote even saw them pull ahead of the women’s team of VfL Wolfsburg football club. The wheeled winners would have been in Paraguay to defend their world title this year, but COVID‑19 put a stop to that.

A good start to her studies

Alongside artistic skating, Amelie has been interested in technology and craftsmanship from a young age. She knew early on that she wanted to do some job involving technology. After a visit to the students’ Advisory Service, she then knew exactly what she wanted to study: sports engineering. That degree program has only existed since winter semester 2019. “I was at the summer college and took part in the Welcome Week. That really helped my find my feet,” Amelie recalls. “It’s also a huge advantage to know everybody on the degree program. We don’t have the kind of overcrowding other universities have to deal with.” At TU Clausthal, one feels very well looked after. After graduation, the career prospects are many and varied, ranging from research for sports gear manufacturers and testing of exercise equipment, to physiotherapy and elite sports facilities or the prosthetics industry.

Helping other people with prosthetics

So far, Amelie has most enjoyed her classes on sports equipment and materials and her anatomy courses. The modules of this multifaceted degree program provide a good insight into possible future research areas, such as prosthetics. With expertise in the manufacture and development of prosthetics, the 20‑year-old would like to be able to help people in future and at the same time combine her passion for sports and exercise with her working life.

back