With passion for excellence

Wilo named “Elite-sports-friendly Company” by the DOSB

Dortmund. The Wilo Group was honoured as the “Elite-sports-friendly Company” for 2023 by the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB). With this title, the DOSB recognises the ongoing, long-term commitment of the multinational technology group to the professional development opportunities of elite athletes.

“It is important to us to offer top athletes professional opportunities during their active sports career”, says Dr Patrick Niehr, Executive Board Member and Chief Change Officer (CCO) of the Wilo Group. “Together with the Wilo-Foundation and true to its motto ‘empowering young people’, we enable young people to develop their outstanding sporting talents and at the same time launch their careers.”

The Wilo Group and the Wilo-Foundation have been involved in top-level rowing for over a decade. Wilo has been the main sponsor of the German Men’s Eight since 2010. Since 2013, the Wilo-Foundation has also supported the U23 athletes in Dortmund as the official sponsor of young talent. With scholarships, internships and many other offers, top athletes are given opportunities at Wilo to build a professional career alongside their sports activities. Richard Schmidt, for example: The 36-year-old rower, Olympic champion and multiple world champion in the men’s eight is now Head of Product Development Hydrogen in Wilo’s hydrogen team, where he is driving forward the development of this technology of the future.

“For the transition from an athletic to a professional career to be successful, it is best for the company and the top athletes to work together in the long term”, says Dr Niehr. Wilo creates the conditions for this and thus also makes an important contribution to the social security of athletes.

Sven Baumgarten, Dual Career Project Manager at the DOSB, adds: "We are very pleased to thank WILO SE for its long-standing partnership with German competitive sport by awarding it the title of "2023 Elite-sports-friendly Company". In particular, the support provided in the area of training and studies – including the offer of internships – was highlighted by the jury, as this enables our top athletes to embark on a successful dual career."

Since 2015, the “Elite-sports-friendly Company” title has been awarded annually by the DOSB, the German Conference of Sports Ministers (Sportministerkonferenz, SMK) and the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DIHK). The award recognises the outstanding and ongoing commitment of companies and employers to dovetailing competitive sport, vocational training and work. In addition to the offers and development opportunities provided, long-term commitment and great flexibility are also important factors in selecting the award winners. Only in this way is it possible for athletes to permanently combine professional careers and sporting competition.

“Wilo and elite sports have been closely linked for many years”, says Dr Niehr. “Passion, performance and the ability to work in a team are equally important for competitive sports and business success.”