Actually had Tabea Botthof Completely different plans for this fall. Back to the USA to Yale University, continued his studies and of course continued playing college ice hockey. But the corona pandemic has also completely messed up the national player's intentions. “Our league has decided that they would temporarily cancel the season until January 1st and then I wouldn’t have been able to play ice hockey there until January,” Botthof told on the sidelines of the course DEB-Women in Füssen. Her alternative: a year off from university, back to her former club ESC Planegg and then – if everything goes well – start studying again in 2021. The 20-year-old still has two years until she graduates.
“I don’t have university for the next two semesters, but I work and do internships while I play in Planegg”, reports the defense attorney. Because her psychology studies with a focus on neuroscience are on hold, Botthof will gain experience in everyday hospital life on a ward for internal medicine and gastroenterology and expand her wealth of knowledge. When she goes on the ice, the focus is already on the Olympic qualification in August 2021. “This has been a common thread and motivation for four years. It's not far away now and always the focus of all measures in the back of our mindssays Botthof.
It was no different at the end of August during the training days in Allgäu. And Botthof, who made her debut for the senior team at the age of 16, already recognizes an "incredible fighting mentality" in the team of women's national coach Christian Künast. "On the one hand, that's because we don't have it that easy in women's ice hockey," explains Botthof, "and in many cases we have to juggle between training, the armed forces, our careers and so on. And I also believe that in recent years we have an extreme development have been through and you can tell that we a lot of talent and a lot of level All of this can certainly be a bargaining chip for the hoped-for ticket to the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing.
Botthof has enjoyed life at the college so far; she thinks the campus is diverse. In addition to ice hockey, there are lots of other fields of activity, “endless possibilities,” as Botthof explains. The cohesion is also correspondingly strong. “Many people also have friends from other sports and they like to watch something. We once went to a football game with the team or went swimming and diving. “That’s definitely very cool,” emphasizes the Landshut native.
But the general conditions for their sport are also ideal. Already in the morning there is the chance for individual training: shooting, passing, running, whatever you feel like. The lectures and seminars are followed by daily team training lasting up to two hours. The team usually travels to the away games one day in advance and everything is structured professionally. Botthof benefits from this and appreciates these advantages for her sporting development. “I really like campus life at college in America,” says Botthof, “but I think that’s what I definitely want to do back to Germany. "
At Yale she is one of the pillars of the team and receives a lot of praise. And Botthof is also an integral part of the national team. As the youngest team member at the time, he was part of the World Cup team in 2017, which achieved fourth place in Plymouth, USA - the best World Cup result of the year DEB among women in general. When Botthof isn't on the ice or studying for her degree, she enjoys solving crossword puzzles or "loves to sing loudly" in the dressing room. However, the student finds particular relaxation playing the piano, another real passion. “This is an extremely good balance for me,” she says.
Botthof started playing ice hockey in Erding when he was seven, stayed there for a long time during the Young Talent period and then moved to Planegg for a season before starting his adventure in the USA after graduating from high school. The year before, she had made a striking appearance at a scouting tournament in America and made contact with a university team. After a year of preparation that ended with a diploma from a Kent school in 2018, the offer came from Yale. Botthof would like to go there again soon, but perhaps she will already have her Olympic ticket in her pocket.