From the Lecture Hall to the Tournament Floor

Fynn Maliska is representing Clausthal University of Technology at the University Championships and shows you how to make the leap to the international stage through college sports.

Karate has been an integral part of Fynn Maliska’s life since he was four years old. The 22-year-old has already competed in over 200 tournaments, and he’s still far from done. He is in his fourth semester studying sports engineering at Clausthal University of Technology, which qualifies him to participate in the University Championships: These take place annually across Europe and every two years worldwide. Here, international athletes from the university community compete against one another.

Fynn is currently training intensively for the European University Championships (EUC) in Combat Sports, which will take place this September in Albania. There, he will compete for Clausthal University of Technology and will once again gain competition experience at the international level. In June, he already participated in the World University Championships (WUC) in Combat Sports in Brazil.  In addition to exciting matches, he was able to make valuable connections and bring home many new impressions.

High Level in Brazil

The weekend before the tournament, Fynn traveled to Brasília, the country’s capital. He was accompanied by athletes from his sport—including a good friend from HMU Erfurt. “After so many years in the sport, we all know each other,” says Fynn.

In karate, participants compete against each other in various disciplines and weight classes. Fynn competed in kumite (“clash of hands”) in three-minute bouts in which points are scored. The tournament was held using a single-elimination format: only the group winner advanced to the next round. The groups were randomly assigned at the start to ensure fairness.

“The level of competition was very high,” he reports. Among the nearly 30 participants in his weight class were several who will also be sent to the World Championships. In his group, he faced two athletes from North Macedonia and Turkey right off the bat, who went on to win gold and bronze. “I just had bad luck with the draw. But I still enjoyed the matches,” says Fynn.

Since his matches took place early in the week, there was still time for sightseeing. Several athletes got together and explored the city: They visited the national park, the grand cathedral, and sampled the local cuisine. They were also able to watch competitions in other sports taking place in neighboring venues, such as jujitsu and wrestling.

During the tournament, all the athletes received pins, which they traded with one another. “I think I’ve traded twelve international pins by now,” he recalls. For him, the tournament was therefore also a great opportunity to make new connections in the college scene.

Support from Clausthal University of Technology

In addition to university competitions, Fynn has been competing in the open competition circuit for years. He wants to continue playing the sport at a high level while pursuing his studies. In the Men’s Division 1 performance class, athletes are on average about 35 years old when they retire; so Fynn still has a lot ahead of him. “The university championships are at a great level, and the international trips are a huge plus. All in all, it’s really exciting.”

The support from Clausthal University of Technology also makes a noticeable difference for him: “I get a lot of support, and, for example, I’m excused from internships and lectures for the trips,” he says. The financial support is particularly important, he notes, since he wouldn’t be able to cover the costs of the competitions out of his own pocket in the long run. Sebastian Sdrenka, director of the Sports Institute, is very pleased about Fynn’s participation: “Having one of our students compete in two very high-level competitions is also a great success for Clausthal University of Technology.”

“I really like it at Clausthal University of Technology,” Fynn continues. His degree program in sports engineering has particularly impressed him and is setting the course for his professional future. Later, he would like to pursue a career in development.
 

Staying fit for Albania

Inspired by his WUC experience, Fynn is now getting back into his normal training routine. The annual European University Championships in Tirana, Albania, are coming up as early as September. “At the EUC, the qualification process is a bit less intense, since you’re not competing directly for Germany, but for your own university.”

Since starting college, he has been training at the Budo Sportschule Goslar; five training sessions a week and almost daily trips to the gym are part of his daily routine. He has also found a good training partner in Goslar. Although his partner competes in a lower weight class, they are similar in height.

In addition to aiming for a strong finish at the EUC, he already has his sights set on his next big goal: “I definitely want to compete at the next WUC in Bangkok. To do that, I need to perform well at the German University Championships (DHM)—ideally, win again.”

If you’re also interested in the University Championships, please contact our Sports Institute directly (insert email). The prerequisite is that you participate in a traditional sport recognized by the General German University Sports Association (ADH). With a title or podium finish at the DHM, you can apply to the ADH for a spot. Clausthal University of Technology is happy to support you through the process.