About the BVDKS

Hamburg was an important starting point for organised kettlebell sport in Germany. The first German Championships took place there on 27 August 2011; further editions followed until 2014. A highlight was the IUKL World Championship from 20 to 24 November 2014 in the Wandsbek sports hall. More than 500 athletes from 35 nations took part, including ten from Germany. Athletenclub Hamburg and the Hamburger Gewichtheber-Verband played a decisive role in this early development phase.

The Bundesverband Deutscher Kettlebell Sportler (BVDKS) was founded in Hamburg on 18 January 2015. The initiative for a nationwide association capable of acting in the long term came from Berlin. Karsten Bollert became the first president and André Chahor vice president; Johann Martin was also a member of the founding board as vice president. Together they built up the statutes, regulations, responsibilities, website and contacts with clubs and international organisations. In its founding year, the BVDKS joined the IKMF and the IUKL. The fifth German Championships were again held in Hamburg.

The sixth German Championships also took place in Hamburg. At the same time, the young association continued to work on uniform competition rules, judging structures and reliable organisational processes. This laid the foundation for greater regional expansion and further national events.

With the German Championships in Stolberg, the national championship was held outside Hamburg for the first time. In addition, there was the NRW Championship in Münster. Vadim Sichwardt became Vice President Sport. For the BVDKS's second birthday on 18 January, Kettlebell4Kids was held for the first time. Since then, this annual charity event has combined sporting performance with social commitment to children.

The national competition calendar grew significantly: in addition to the German Championships in Stolberg, the NRW Championship in Münster, the Rhein-Main Cup in Mainz and the Gmünd City Championship took place. On 9 March, the BVDKS joined the WKSF, expanding its international ties. André Chahor won the elite biathlon title up to 87 kilograms at the WKSF European Championship in Maia/Porto.

The German Championships were held in Berlin for the first time. At the IUKL European Championship in Stolberg, almost 30 participants from Germany competed. In Gormanston, André Chahor became the first German athlete to win the WKSF World Championship in the elite class up to 87 kilograms, set a world record in the biathlon and achieved the rank of “Master of Sport International Class”. Alexander Jäck won silver in the professional long cycle at the IUKL World Championship in Novi Sad. On 25 August, Vadim Sichwardt took over the presidency; Olivia Rasigraf became Vice President Sport, and André Chahor remained Vice President Finance.

The Covid pandemic severely restricted regular competition. Nevertheless, the community remained active: in addition to the documented Rhein-Main Cup, digital formats such as the Online Military Snatch Challenge were used. Kettlebell4Kids also continued. The event on 18 January raised €1,510.80 for Dunkelziffer e. V.

With the German Championships in Ludwigshafen and the NRW Championship in Stolberg, national in-person competitions returned. Internationally, the German team celebrated two special successes: André Chahor won the WKSF world title in elite biathlon up to 87 kilograms, and Silvia Hoch became WKSF World Champion in the elite class up to 75 kilograms.

The German Championships took place in Stolberg, the South-West German Championship in Hoppstädten-Weiersbach. André Chahor again won gold at the WKSF World Championship, this time in elite biathlon up to 95 kilograms. Mykola Mosiichuk won two European titles at the IUKL European Championship in Tallinn – in biathlon and long cycle.

With the German Championships in Ober-Olm, the NRW Championship in Stolberg, the South-West German Championship in Hoppstädten-Weiersbach and the first Berlin Open, the BVDKS offered four national events. Mykola Mosiichuk won bronze in elite biathlon at the WKSF World Championship and two silver medals at the IUKL World Championship.

The competition calendar included the German Championships in Hoppstädten-Weiersbach, the NRW Championship in Stolberg, the Berlin Open, the Rhein-Main Cup in Ober-Olm and the Nikolaus Challenge in Ludwigshafen-Ruchheim. At the WKSF World Championship in Rzeszów, André Chahor won his fourth world title. Mykola Mosiichuk and Silvia Hoch each won silver, once again underlining the international strength of the German team.

The German Championships in Ludwigshafen-Ruchheim, the NRW Championship in Stolberg, the Berlin Open and the Rhein-Main Cup in Ober-Olm ensured a stable national competition programme. 39 participants competed at the Rhein-Main Cup. Internationally, Mykola Mosiichuk won gold in biathlon and bronze in snatch at the IUKL European Championship in Sofia; further podium places at international championships followed.

On 7 March, the German Championships were held in Berlin with around 80 participants and several new best performances. On 27 June, the NRW Championship followed in Stolberg, where ten years of local kettlebell sport were also celebrated. On 12 September, more than 50 participants came to the Rhein-Main-Cup in Ober-Olm. The first Open Bremen Championship has been announced for 28 November. Around 15 German athletes are also preparing for the IUKL World Championship in Riga from 14 to 18 November.