Laura Ludwig

Laura Ludwig (born 13 January 1986) is a German professional beach volleyball player, playing as a defender.[1] Currently forming a pair with compatriot Kira Walkenhorst, she represents Hamburger SV and has won four European championships. She won the gold medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics. She added another medal, Gold, at the 2016 World Tour Finals in Toronto. In 2017, she and Walkenhorst won the World Championship in Vienna.

Laura Ludwig
Ludwig in May 2008
Personal information
NationalityGermany
Born (1986-01-13) 13 January 1986
HometownBerlin
Height1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Weight70 kg (154 lb)
Beach volleyball information
Current teammate
Teammate
Kira Walkenhorst
Previous teammates
Years Teammate
2014 Jul-Sept
2004-2012
Julia Sude
Sara Goller
National team
Germany

Biography

Ludwig was born in East Berlin, East Germany.

Initially paired with Jana Köhler, Ludwig won the U18 European Championship and later the U18 World Championship in Pattava Beach (Thailand).[2] After surviving a stroke which nearly ended her career,[2] she bounced back after teaming with a new partner, Sara Goller. Together, Ludwig and Goller became 2006 German champions,[2] won the U23 European Championships in St. Pölten[2] and ended up fourth in the women's European Championships the same year in Den Haag.[2] They continued their line of success in 2007, defending the German title and winning the silver medal in the European Championships in Valencia.[2] Ludwig and Goller ended the 2007 season leading the German women's ranking and placing seventh overall.[2]

She won silver medals at the 2007 and 2009 European beach volleyball championships, and gold medals at the 2008 and 2010 Beach ECH, alongside her former teammate Sara Goller. They competed at the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics, finishing in ninth place in 2008 and reaching the quarterfinals in 2012.

Gold Medal Rio Olympics 2016

In 2013 Ludwig formed a beach partnership with Kira Walkenhorst. The pairing was successful, with bronze medal finishes at the 2013 and 2014 European beach volleyball championship, and gold medals at the 2015 and 2016 Beach ECH.[3] Ludwig and Walkenhorst won the gold medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics, defeating Brazil's pair of Ágatha and Bárbara in straight sets of 21-18 21–14 in the final.

World tour 2016

Laura competed in the World Tour Finals in Toronto. With teammate Kira they finished 3rd (Last) in Pool-B with 2 losses. In the quarter-final match against Ross and Walsh they won in 3 sets of (21-18, 19–21, 15-11), advancing to the semi-final against Larissa and Talita of Brazil.[4]

Winning against Brazil in straight sets of (21-19, 21-19)[5] the pair advance to the gold medal match. Another Gold medal for the Olympic winners in straight sets of (21-18, 21-16)[6] against the Swiss pair of Zumkehr and Heidrich

2017 season

Laura Ludwig has confirmed that she will not be competing in at the opening round of the 2017 season in Fort Lauderdale due to a shoulder operation.[7] Ludwig's regular partner Kira Walkenhorst will be temporarily partnering Julia Großner.[8]

Laura's first tournament of the 2017 season after her shoulder operation was the Smart Super Cup in Münster. Alongside regular partner Kira they secured the gold medal with a 2:0 scoreline ahead of runners up Laboureur & Sude.[9] Ludwig's first international tournament in 2017 was the FIVB World Tour tournament in Rio de Janeiro. After beating Lusson/Jupiter and Juliana/Carol in Pool play and Davidova/Shchypkova in their third match they lost to Pavan/Humana-Paredes to finish the tournament in 5th position.[10]

See also

References

  1. Dorfman, Blake (August 6, 2016). "The Toughest Challenges for Kerri Walsh Jennings, April Ross in Rio". Bleacher Report. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
  2. Sara Goller/Laura Ludwig Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine, www.dvv.de
  3. FIVB Player Players Database
  4. Elimination Matches
  5. Germans not thinking about the money
  6. German duo caps off memorable beach volleyball season in Toronto
  7. Mallon, Thimo. "Kira Walkenhorst und der "einzigartige Moment"" (in German). Archived from the original on 2017-01-18. Retrieved 2017-01-16.
  8. "Swatch Major Series: Fort Lauderdale Major - List of Teams". Retrieved 16 Jan 2017.
  9. "Münster (5th May - 7th May 2017)". Ludwig-Walkenhorst.com. Archived from the original on 12 May 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  10. "FIVB World Tour - Rio De Janeiro (4* Event)". Ludwig-Walkenhorst.com. Archived from the original on 10 July 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
Sporting positions
Preceded by
 Larissa França and
Talita Antunes (BRA)
Women's FIVB Beach World Tour Winner
alongside Kira Walkenhorst

2016
Succeeded by
 Larissa França and
Talita Antunes (BRA)
Preceded by
 Ágatha Bednarczuk and
Bárbara Seixas (BRA)
Women's FIVB Beach World Champion
alongside Kira Walkenhorst

2017
Succeeded by
 Sarah Pavan and
Melissa Humana-Paredes (CAN)
Preceded by
 Ágatha Bednarczuk and
Eduarda Lisboa (BRA)
Women's FIVB Beach World Tour Finals Champion
alongside Kira Walkenhorst

2019
Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by
 Larissa França and
Talita Antunes (BRA)
Women's FIVB Beach World Tour Finals Champion
alongside Kira Walkenhorst

2016 & 2017
Succeeded by
 Ágatha Bednarczuk and
Eduarda Lisboa (BRA)
Awards
Preceded by
TBD
Women's FIVB World Tour "Most Entertaining"
2019
Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by
 Heather Bansley (CAN)
Women's FIVB World Tour "Best Defender"
2017
Succeeded by
 Heather Bansley (CAN)
Preceded by
 Nadine Zumkehr (SUI)
Women's FIVB World Tour "Most Inspirational"
2017
Succeeded by
 Ágatha Bednarczuk (BRA)
Preceded by
 Larissa França (BRA)
Women's FIVB World Tour "Most Outstanding"
2016–2017
Succeeded by
 Duda (BRA)
Preceded by
 Juliana Silva (BRA)
Women's FIVB World Tour "Sportsperson"
2015–2017
Succeeded by
 Ágatha Bednarczuk (BRA)
Preceded by
 Larissa França and
Talita Antunes (BRA)
Women's FIVB World Tour "Team of the Year"
alongside Kira Walkenhorst

2016
Succeeded by
 Larissa França and
Talita Antunes (BRA)
Preceded by
 Larissa França (BRA)
Women's FIVB World Tour "Best Defender"
2013
Succeeded by
 Larissa França (BRA)
Preceded by
 Misty May-Treanor (USA)
 Kerri Walsh Jennings (USA)
Women's FIVB World Tour "Most Inspirational"
2013
Succeeded by
 Kerri Walsh Jennings (USA)
Preceded by
 Juliana Silva (BRA)
Women's FIVB World Tour "Best Attacker"
2011
Succeeded by
 Juliana Silva (BRA)
Preceded by
 Leila Barros (BRA)
Women's FIVB World Tour "Most Improved"
alongside Tamsin Barnett

2007
Succeeded by
 Nicole Branagh (USA)
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