12 Jan 2014 at 15:13 | Published by: Hans | Views: 26561 | News search

Gaby Rahmlow playing lane 12 in Appelscha  (Photo by MGC Oirschot 2013)

Interview with Gaby Rahmlow (GR), Germany and SV Lurup

This interview was done the 12th of January 2014. Interviewer is Hans Bergström (HB).

HB: First of all congratulations to another great season of 2013 and of course the historical triple gold’s in Appelscha.

Trying to get a grip over your merits in the past years is not easy. I was trying to count and it looks something like this in World and European Championships:

• Individually WC: 1 gold, 1 bronze
• Individually EC (junior, general and senior class): 11 gold, 5 silver, 4 bronze
• Team WC: 6 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze
• Team EC (junior, general and senior class): 14 gold, 7 silver, 1 bronze

Which of all these medals do you value the most?

GR: The gold medal of the world championship 1997 in Florida/Switzerland. I won from 1990 till 1996 all European championships, but by the world championships in the odd years I didn’t get an individual medal.

The other medals with great value for me were the gold medals, individual and team, when minigolf take part by the World games 1989, what was the Olympic games of the not Olympic kind of sport.

HB: An interesting fact is that of the 52 medals above incredible 62 % is of gold value. Do you have lots of winner instinct?

GR: What is a winner instinct? I believe it is more a basic Instinct, try to do the best with concentration on the next stroke. To have a good surrounding and a good team is also important.

HB: Can you tell our readers little about who are Gaby Rahmlow?

GR: I play minigolf since 41 years and there is not many time for other leisure time activities. But when I have time, I play golf, go by bike or go to a hike. Also yoga and book reading, crime and fantasy, are my favourites. Since 1982 I’m working by the tax authority in Hamburg and there I’m coaching auditors of annual accounts.

HB: In Appelscha you made a historical triple (team gold, stroke play gold and match play gold). This was the first time any player has made this since the possibility of winning three medals were introduced in 2011. Some players including you in 2011 have been close (gold-gold-silver), but this was the first time a triple gold was secured. Was this in fact ever in your mind during the competitions in Appelscha?

GR: No, I didn’t though that it could happen. An individual medal can be the target. For the team medal you need a good team and for the match play you need a lot of luck. The match play is a little bit special. You can get only one point if you win or lose one lane, when you play better or worse as your competitor. So it is more difficult to make a distance in the result.

HB: Looking back on the team play in Appelscha. The German team was behind the Swedish team for 4 of 6 laps. What happened that made it possible for you to get in front of the Swedish ladies in the last two rounds?

GR: In 2013 the European championship was only played at the felt system, the system of Sweden. We, the German, not the champion in this case could attack what is easier than defend.

HB: The stroke play gold was won with an absolute astonishing margin of 10 strokes ahead of Sweden’s Linda Lundberg. At what moment in the competition were you sure that the gold was yours?

GR: That is not easy to answer. I think when we had played the lane 17 in the last round and the difference between us was greater than 7 strokes. 10 strokes look a lot, but the felt system can be treacherous at the finally.

HB: Then in the match play you managed to make an even more impressive win. You won your matches with 6-0, 5-0, 4-0 and 4-1. Only Andrea managed to win a lane at all against you and that was in the final. Can you tell us about what feelings you had during this stroke play Saturday?

GR: The Saturday was incredible. My first competitor was Heidi. Heidi was the winner in a spectacular final match in Künzel, and she was the winner at lane 17. I tried to be patient and do my best. Most of my strokes were well and I also have a bit of luck and that’s why Heidi and also the next coming competitors have not a chance, a tremendous success.

HB: Looking back on Appelscha, which is the single moment that you remember the most?

GR: The single moment that I remember the most in Appelscha was, when I realize that I am the first triple gold winner at this point of time.

HB: I saw that you were visiting the World Championships in Bad Münder as spectator. Did you have an itch to play instead of being a spectator?

GR: To be a spectator visiting the World Championships in Bad Münder was harder as to play. Yes I would play with pleasure a world championship, but the senior doesn’t play that, what a pity.

HB: You have competed against many girls and ladies over the years. Who do you consider as the best player (apart from yourself) that you have played against?

GR: The last 40 years I played with a lot of good players. Each of them had merits and demerits and it is hard to say who is or was the best.

HB: Who are the best players (men and ladies) in the world at the moment by your opinion?

GR: That is not easy to answer. I believe the winners of the great contests are the best.

HB: Will we be seeing equally much of you in the 2014 season?

GR: Who knows what is in the future. My plan is to play minigolf 2014, I hope I can take part at all great events and there are exciting competitions and good results.

HB: Again a big congratulation to the historical triple European Championship titles and good luck in the future.

GR: Thank you for the interview. Good luck for you in the future too.

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