Photo: Sauerland Event
Alexander Povetkin caught up with fellow Olympic gold medal winners Timo Wess, Christopher Zeller und Max Weinhold on Wednesday afternoon when they met for a special training session. The White Lion, a gold medallist at Athens, received a thorough introduction by the German field hockey trio that led their country to fame at the 2008 Olympics in Peking. “Ice-hockey is very popular in Russia,” said Povetkin, who was surprised to find out that the sport could also be played on an artificial grass pitch. “A comedy-show host in Russia once said that the Germans only invented field hockey for them to finally win a medal,” he joked.
Povetkin learned how to stop the ball, pass and shoot before challenging legendary German keeper Weinhold in a shootout. The German goalie had saved no less than three of six penalties in an epic showdown with arch-rivals Holland in the Olympic semi-final. He was at his best again, diverting all of Povetkin´s promising attempts until the Russian found a way past him.
The heavyweight star then impressed his training partners during the boxing work-out. “I cannot believe how powerful he punches,” Zeller said after working the pads with him. “His punching power is incredible.” Replied Povetkin: “I was just at 20 percent.” Said Zeller: “Poor Wladimir Klitschko.”
