Top female athletes at RUB with international successes

European Para-Judo Championships in Tbilisi

Isabell Thal won the bronze medal at the 2025 European Championships in Tbilisi (Georgia), continuing her impressive run of success. The 24-year-old secured the silver medal at the World Cup in Giza back in August - just one year after finishing a strong 5th place at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris.

In the individual competition up to 60 kg, Isabell impressed right from the start. She won her opening fight on September 19 against Spain's Marta Arce ahead of time. In the semi-final, however, she was defeated by the reigning world and European champion Daria Stakanova. In the small final, she finally met her national team colleague and former world champion Ramona Brussig. With great fighting spirit, Isabell also won this fight early and deservedly secured third place.

At her side was team-mate Lennart Sass, who even won the gold medal in Tbilisi.

In an interview with University Sports, Isabell summed up her success as follows:
"Third place at the European Championships is a huge success for me, especially after moving up to the higher weight class. The bronze medal here and the silver medal at the World Cup in Egypt show me that it was absolutely the right decision."

As far as her next sporting goals are concerned, Isabell remains highly motivated:
"There's another World Cup in Brazil at the end of the year, and next year the qualifiers for Los Angeles begin. The aim is to collect as many points as possible for the world rankings in order to start the qualification phase in a good position."

The next Paralympics will take place in Los Angeles in 2028. We congratulate Isabell on her European Championship bronze and are already keeping our fingers crossed for the upcoming World Cups and qualification for the Games!

World Championship bronze for the women's quadruple sculls

Pia Greiten won the bronze medal in the A final with the German women's quadruple sculls at the 2025 World Rowing Championships in Shanghai. The team led by Pia Greiten, who raced as the coxswain, finished third behind the strong boats of the Netherlands and Great Britain, securing a podium finish for the German Rowing Association, just as they did at the Olympic Games in Paris. In addition to Greiten, the team this season consisted of Sarah Wibberenz, Frauke Hundeling and Lisa Gutfleisch. This bronze medal was the first for the German Rowing Association (DRV) at this edition of the World Championships. Pia Greiten already won the bronze medal at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris with the German women's double four

Pia Greiten will be competing in two boat classes at the 2025 World Rowing Championships in Shanghai:

• In the women's quadruple sculls (W4x), where she recently won bronze again.
• She will also be competing in the mixed double sculls (Mix2x); the heats start on Sunday and the decision on who will progress has yet to be made.

We would also like to congratulate Pia Greiten and keep our fingers crossed for her and the whole team for the remaining races!