Overview

• Brendel officially announced his retirement at a KC Potsdam club event on July 4, closing out a quarter-century on the water.
• Over his career the 37-year-old German amassed 59 medals, including three Olympic golds in 2012 and 2016, one bronze in 2021, 13 world championship titles, and 17 European crowns.
• His final international appearance came at last summer’s Paris Olympics, where he missed the podium in the C1 1000 m final.
• He will begin his service in the Bundespolizei on August 1 in Potsdam, working in training and elite sport promotion.
• Long-time coach Ralph Welke hailed Brendel as a once-in-a-lifetime athlete for his powerful finishing sprints and unwavering consistency.