Viola Brand
![]() Viola Brand doing a handstand in 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Born | Backnang, Germany | 28 June 1994||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current team | Retired | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Discipline | Artistic cycling | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Role | Single | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Major wins | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
German Champion (2017) European Champion (2018) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Viola Brand (born 28 June 1994[1]) is a German cyclist specialising in artistic cycling. She has won national and European championships twice each, and the silver medal three times in the World Championships.
Personal life[edit]
Brand was born in Backnang, Germany.[2][1] She tried to climb the training bike as early as 5 years old, then still failing to reach the pedals. Her elder brother did artistic cycling before her, and both he and Brand were coached by their mother.[3] She started training artistic cycling at 6 years old.[4][5][6]
Brand is studying clinical nutrition at Hohenheim University, Stuttgart.[7] As of February 2021[update], she is writing the thesis for her master's degree.[8]
Professional career[edit]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9b/Viola_Brand_Worldchampionship.jpg/260px-Viola_Brand_Worldchampionship.jpg)
Brand's sports club is RSV Unterweissach (located in Weissach im Tal).[3][9] She joined the German national sports team at the age of 15,[5] and won the Junior European Championships in 2012.[9]
She set a world record at the European Junior Championships in 2011 in her age group,[10] and another world record at the regular European Championships in 2018.[11][12][13] Her best personal score was 194.71 points in German Masters 2019.[14]
Brand spent years perfecting her choreography and learning new stunts. It took her seven years of training to be able to do a handstand on the handlebar,[15] the stunt Brand is most proud of,[16] and in June 2019 she was able to perform a Maute jump for the first time, jumping from the saddle to the handlebars.[17]
Brand participated in a total of five World Championships, missing qualification in 2018[18] after a competition which German national coach Dieter Maute called "very hard".[19] Since each nation can only send two participants, Brand stated that "qualification is much harder than winning a medal at the World Championships".[18] Brand uses a special belt-driven bicycle,[16] and her motto, inscribed on the toothed belt, is "Du musst den Kampf mehr lieben als den Sieg" ("You have to love the fight more than the victory").[18][2]
Her last official competition was in Basel at the World Championships in December 2019, where she won a silver medal, making it her third Vice Championship.[1] In February 2020 she announced her retirement, although she continues to perform for exhibitions and to promote her sport.[20][1] Brand hopes to someday see artistic cycling become one of the Olympic sports.[6]
Statistics[edit]
Personal best[edit]
Her best results, according to data from the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and German Cycling Federation (BDR):
Artistic Cycling – Single women | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Competition | City | Date | Result | Position | References |
German Masters 1 | Lemgo (![]() |
6 September 2014 | 173.78 | 2nd | [21][22] |
German Masters 2 | Klein-Winternheim (![]() |
20 September 2014 | 172.80 | 2nd | [23][24] |
German Championships | Denkendorf (![]() |
18 October 2014 | 175.30 | 2nd | [25][26] |
German Masters 1 | Bruckmühl (![]() |
5 September 2015 | 175.98 | 1st | [27][28] |
German Masters 3 | Mörfelden-Walldorf (![]() |
3 October 2015 | 179.99 | 2nd | [29][30] |
German Championships | Lübbecke (![]() |
16 October 2015 | 173.06 | 2nd | [31][32] |
3-Nations Cup | Koblach (![]() |
7 November 2015 | 180.41 | 1st | [33] |
German Masters 1 | Oberschleißheim (![]() |
10 September 2016 | 171.60 | 2nd | [34][35] |
German Masters 3 | Biberach an der Riss (![]() |
8 October 2016 | 182.75 | 1st | [36][37] |
World Championships | Stuttgart (![]() |
2 December 2016 | 173.75 | 2nd | [38] |
German Masters 1 | Weil im Schönbuch (![]() |
9 September 2017 | 169.31 | 3rd | [39][40] |
German Masters 2 | Öhringen (![]() |
23 September 2017 | 184.80 | 2nd | [41][42] |
German Masters 3 | Gutach (![]() |
7 October 2017 | 185.28 | 2nd | [43][44] |
German Championships | Hamburg (![]() |
20 October 2017 | 183.94 | 1st | [45] |
World Championships | Dornbirn (![]() |
24 November 2017 | 183.29 | 2nd | [46] |
World Cup | Prague (![]() |
10 February 2018 | 176.04 | 3rd | [47] |
European Championships | Wiesbaden (![]() |
1 June 2018 | 186.58 | 1st | [48][11] |
World Cup | Heerlen (![]() |
30 June 2018 | 162.36 | 3rd | [49] |
World Cup | Hong Kong (![]() |
12 August 2018 | 175.93 | 1st | [50] |
German Championships | Neresheim (![]() |
19 October 2018 | 180.66 | 2nd | [51] |
World Cup | Bokod (![]() |
10 August 2019 | 180.69 | 1st | [52] |
German Masters 2 | Biberach an der Riss (![]() |
21 September 2019 | 193.39 | 1st | [53][54] |
German Masters 3 | Weil im Schönbuch (![]() |
5 October 2019 | 181,97 | 1st | [55][56] |
German Championships | Moers (![]() |
18 October 2019 | 183.00 | 2nd | [57] |
3-Nations Cup | Baar, Switzerland (![]() |
23 November 2019 | 192.09 | 1st | [58] |
World Cup | Erlenbach (![]() |
30 November 2019 | 181.8 | 1st | [59] |
World Championships | Basel (![]() |
6 December 2019 | 185.14 | 2nd | [60] |
Other activities[edit]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c5/Viola_Brand_artistic_cycling_%28cropped%29.jpg/220px-Viola_Brand_artistic_cycling_%28cropped%29.jpg)
In 2017, Brand started an Instagram account after a friend suggested it, and by July 2018 had gathered over 100k followers.[4] As of February 2021[update], she has almost 400k followers.[8] Her channel piqued the interest of staff from The Ellen DeGeneres Show, which Brand used to watch to improve her English skills, and in February 2020 she was a guest in the show.[61][62] In 2018, she participated in the talent show Das Supertalent but failed to reach the final.[7] In 2019, she toured with the show Feuerwerk der Turnkunst through 22 cities in Germany,[1] with her performance being lauded.[63][64]
After her February 2020 retirement from professional sports, Brand announced that she would like to focus on appearances in shows and her social media.[62] In early 2021, she signed a contract with the Golden State Warriors to perform during the halftime show, virtually at first due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic;[8] in early 2022 she performed live during several NBA halftime shows.[65] In July 2021, the Stuttgarter Zeitung reported on an underwater photography session featuring Brand with her bicycle.[66] In May 2022, she was featured in a video by Danny MacAskill.[67]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e Grün, Steffen (14 February 2020). "Viola Brand verlässt Wettkampfbühne". Backnanger Kreiszeitung (in German). Archived from the original on 15 February 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
- ^ a b "Steckbrief Viola Brand" (in German). Deutsche Bank. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
- ^ a b Rainer, Rainer (2 December 2016). "Hallenradsport-WM: Schon mit fünf Jahren aufs Rad geklettert". Südwest Presse (in German). Archived from the original on 15 February 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
- ^ a b Brand, Viola (31 July 2018). "Meeting Viola Brand". We love cycling (Interview). Škoda Auto. Archived from the original on 30 January 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
- ^ a b Mayer, Isabel (17 November 2018). "RTL-Serie: Kunstradfahrerin aus Schorndorf will Supertalent werden". Stuttgarter Nachrichten (in German). Archived from the original on 7 August 2020. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
- ^ a b Jost, Klaus-Eckhard (27 May 2018). "Kunstradfahrerin Viola Brand: Sich aus der Nische strampeln". taz (in German). Archived from the original on 18 June 2019. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
- ^ a b "RTL-Show "Das Supertalent": Kunstradfahrerin aus Schorndorf schafft es nicht ins Finale". Stuttgarter Nachrichten (in German). 23 December 2018. Archived from the original on 12 August 2020. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
- ^ a b c Flegel, Uwe (9 February 2021). "Viola Brand und ihr Wahnsinn mit der NBA". Murrhardter Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 15 February 2021.
- ^ a b Gunter (27 May 2012). "Viola Brand holt sich den Europameister-Titel" (in German). Radsportverein Unterweissach e.V. 1905. Archived from the original on 12 February 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
- ^ Gunter (12 April 2011). "Viola Brand mit Weltrekord bei 1. Junior-Masters sowie 1. und 2. EM-Qualifikation und 1. C-Kader-Sichtung". www.rsvu.de (in German). Archived from the original on 22 February 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
- ^ a b Schwarz, Wilfried (4 June 2018). "EM-Gold mit neuem Weltrekord geholt". Backnanger Kreiszeitung (in German). Archived from the original on 22 February 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
- ^ Klingler, Daniela. "EM Elite: Weltrekord für Viola Brand!". Württembergischer Radsportverband e.V. Archived from the original on 22 February 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
- ^ "Miedelsbacherin mit Weltrekord zum EM-Titel". ZVW (in German). Zeitungsverlag Waiblingen. 3 June 2018. Archived from the original on 22 February 2021. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
- ^ "Ergebnisliste" [Results list] (PDF). BDR (in German). Retrieved 5 April 2021.
- ^ Butschek, Isabelle (11 January 2018). "Radsport im Rems-Murr-Kreis: Künstler auf einem und zwei Rädern". Stuttgarter Nachrichten (in German). Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ a b Brand, Viola (2 November 2018). "This Mind-Blowing Artistic Cyclist Is Stronger Than a Tour de France Rider!". Bicycling (Interview). Interviewed by Yeager, Selene. Archived from the original on 30 January 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ Schwarz, Wilfried (26 June 2019). "Viola Brand gewinnt nach gelungenem Mautesprung". Backnanger Kreiszeitung (in German). Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ a b c Schwarz, Wilfried (5 December 2019). "Fünfter Anlauf auf das erste WM-Gold". Backnanger Kreiszeitung (in German). Archived from the original on 22 February 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ "Viola Brand kämpft um WM-Teilnahme". ZVW (in German). Zeitungsverlag Waiblingen. 6 September 2018. Archived from the original on 22 February 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ "Artistic cycling: A wave of departures and arrivals". UCI. 21 February 2020. Archived from the original on 30 January 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
- ^ "Single Artistic Cycling Women – Lemgo – 06 Sep 2014". UCI. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ "Ergebnisliste im Kunstradfahren – 1. German Masters 2014 Finale" (PDF). Hallenradsport Daum (in German). German Cycling Federation. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
- ^ "Single Artistic Cycling Women – Klein-Winternheim – 20 Sep 2014". UCI. Archived from the original on 22 February 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ "Ergebnisliste im Kunstradsport – 2. German Masters 2014 Finale" (PDF). Hallenradsport Daum (in German). German Cycling Federation. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
- ^ "Single Artistic Cycling Women – Denkendorf – 18 Oct 2014". UCI. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ "Ergebnisliste im Kunstradsport – DM Elite 2014 Finale" (PDF). Hallenradsport Daum (in German). German Cycling Federation. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
- ^ "Single Artistic Cycling Women – Bruckmühl – 05 Sep 2015". UCI. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ "Ergebnisliste im Kunstradsport – 1. German Masters 2015 Finale" (PDF). Hallenradsport Daum (in German). German Cycling Federation. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
- ^ "Single Artistic Cycling Women – Mörfelden-Walldorf – 03 Oct 2015". UCI. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ "Ergebnisliste im Kunstradsport – 3. German Masters 2015 Finale" (PDF). Hallenradsport Daum (in German). German Cycling Federation. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
- ^ "Single Artistic Cycling Women – Lübbeke – 16 Oct 2015". UCI. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ "Ergebnisliste im Kunstradsport – DM Elite 2015 Finale" (PDF). Hallenradsport Daum (in German). German Cycling Federation. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
- ^ "Single Artistic Cycling Women – Koblach – 07 Nov 2015". UCI. Archived from the original on 22 February 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ "Single Artistic Cycling Women – Frankfurt am Main – 10 Sep 2016". UCI. Archived from the original on 22 February 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ "Ergebnisliste im Kunstradsport – 1. German Masters 2016 Finale" (PDF). rad-net (in German). German Cycling Federation. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
- ^ "Single Artistic Cycling Women – Frankfurt am Main – 08 Oct 2016". UCI. Archived from the original on 22 February 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ "Ergebnisliste im Kunstradsport – 3. German Masters 2016 Finale" (PDF). rad-net (in German). German Cycling Federation. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
- ^ "Single Artistic Cycling Women – Stuttgart – 02 Dec 2016". UCI. Archived from the original on 22 February 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ "Single Artistic Cycling Women – Frankfurt am Main – 09 Sep 2017". UCI. Archived from the original on 22 February 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ "Ergebnisliste im Kunstradsport – 1. German Masters 2017 Finale" (PDF). rad-net (in German). German Cycling Federation. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
- ^ "Single Artistic Cycling Women – Frankfurt am Main – 23 Sep 2017". UCI. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ "Ergebnisliste im Kunstradsport – 2. German Masters 2017 Finale" (PDF). rad-net (in German). German Cycling Federation. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
- ^ "Single Artistic Cycling Women – Frankfurt am Main – 07 Oct 2017". UCI. Archived from the original on 22 February 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ "Ergebnisliste im Kunstradsport – 3. German Masters 2017 Finale" (PDF). rad-net (in German). German Cycling Federation. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
- ^ "Single Artistic Cycling Women – Frankfurt am Main – 20 Oct 2017". UCI. Archived from the original on 22 February 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ "Single Artistic Cycling Women – Dornbirn – 24 Nov 2017". UCI. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ "Single Artistic Cycling Women – Prague, Czech republic – 10 Feb 2018". UCI. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ "Single Artistic Cycling Women – Wiesbaden – 01 Jun 2018". UCI. Archived from the original on 22 February 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ "Single Artistic Cycling Women – Heerlen – 30 Jun 2018". UCI. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ "Single Artistic Cycling Women – Hong Kong – 12 Aug 2018". UCI. Archived from the original on 22 February 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ "Single Artistic Cycling Women – N. N. – 19 Oct 2018". UCI. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ "Single Artistic Cycling Women – Bokod – 10 Aug 2019". UCI. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ "Ergebnisliste Biberach" (PDF). German Cycling Federation. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
- ^ "Ergebnisliste im Kunstradsport – 2. German Masters 2019 Finale" (PDF). rad-net (in German). German Cycling Federation. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
- ^ "Single Artistic Cycling Women – Frankfurt am Main – 05 Oct 2019". UCI. Archived from the original on 22 February 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ "Ergebnisliste im Kunstradsport – 3. German Masters 2019 Finale" (PDF). rad-net (in German). German Cycling Federation. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
- ^ "Single Artistic Cycling Women – Frankfurt am Main – 18 Oct 2019". UCI. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ "Viola Brand". Backnanger Kreiszeitung. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
- ^ "Single Artistic Cycling Women – Erlenbach – 30 Nov 2019". UCI. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ "Single Artistic Cycling Women – Basel – 06 Dec 2019". UCI. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ Alderman, Elgan (6 March 2020). "You need a lot of courage". The Times. Archived from the original on 29 January 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
- ^ a b Götz, Sina (2 March 2020). "Kunstradfahrerin Viola Brand: Schorndorferin verzückt Ellen DeGeneres". Stuttgarter Zeitung (in German). Archived from the original on 28 July 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
- ^ Kowalewski, Martin (30 December 2019). "Kraftvoll und schön". Kreiszeitung (in German). Archived from the original on 31 December 2019. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ "Viola Brand fasziniert mit Balance auf dem Fahrrad". Harzkurier (in German). Funke Mediengruppe. 31 July 2019. Archived from the original on 22 February 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ Weingand, Phillip (24 March 2022). "Kunstradfahrerin aus Schorndorf: Viola Brand begeistert die NBA-Fans". Stuttgarter Nachrichten (in German). Retrieved 18 May 2022.
- ^ Weingand, Phillip (14 July 2021). "Influencerin Viola Brand: Mit dem Kunstrad unter Wasser". Stuttgarter Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 18 May 2022.
- ^ Fotheringham, Ann (11 May 2022). "Daredevil Danny's bike stunts in Glasgow are part of new film". Glasgow Times. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
External links[edit]
Media related to Viola Brand at Wikimedia Commons