Adolf Kloever is the present European Champion. The high-diver has seen the world, thanks to his sport. At the moment he is practicing for the World-Cup in Sweden and the Gay Games VIII Cologne 2010.
He´s not afraid of headers, spirals or turns – despite his 85 years of age.
When Adolf Kloever is standing on the 3 meter diving-board, bobbing up and down, he can do what he wants. But his trainer doesn´t want to see him on the 5 or 10m diving-board. “She doesn´t allow me to dive from the tower. I think she is afraid that I might do a belly flop”, guesses Kloever. It´s an understandable worry as Kloever celebrated his 85th birthday not long ago.
At his age, others have already returned their driver’s license or just go to float in the swimming pool. Kloever hardly listens to his trainer. “Every once in a while of course, I do jump from the top. Mostly I just do the turns for my own pleasure” he says and smiles. When he hangs up his jacket in his house in Bonn, it jingles. There are medals all over the coat hook.
His living room cabinet looks more like a display case in a sports museum.
Kloever is especially proud of the Gold-medal he won during the European Championship 2009 in Sevilla. There are few countries where Kloever has gone high diving and not gotten top marks. “I am happy to get outside. It enables me to learn the world this way – and meet a lot of nice people”, says the high diver.
The Gay Games will be like a home game for Adolf Kloever. He is practicing on a regular basis at the training center of the college of physical education in Cologne. That is where the competitions of the Gay Games will take place.
“Ideal conditions”, says Kloever, who started high diving by accident some 20 years ago.
“A lifeguard asked me if I would like to jump”, he tells me. Back then he was retired already and didn´t have a clue about high diving. But times have changed.
© Thorsten Moeck The high diving could get one of the most entertaining events at the Gay Games VIII Cologne 2010. Not only because of Adolf Kloever. Matthew Mitcham (age 22) from Australia has announced he will attend the Cologne Gay Games (but not participate in the diving event). Olympic gold-medalist Mitcham is one of the best known top sportspersons who is open about being gay. He´s gained cult status for a long time in his home country.
Adolf Kloever has never been Olympic Champion. He even isn´t gay. He´s married and lives with his wife in Bonn. But he probably has won more medals than Matthew Mitcham. In his class over 80 years of age, there isn´t that much competition. “Sometimes there are 10 high divers, sometimes 13. It varies a lot”, knows Kloever.
He hopes for a good competition at the Gay Games. The biggest worldwide sports and cultural event has a special attraction for Kloever. He hopes to learn interesting people. And he hopes for a medal.
Precious metal from the Gay Games is still missing at his wardrobe.
Registration for the sports and culture events is open until the end of May.
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