A life for the water

Hubert Kotte's territory is 25 metres long. He does his laps around the edge of the pool like a tiger. Up and down. For decades, he has been taking away children's fear of their first jump at the edge of the pool. He trims talented youngsters to the top of the world. The child from the East, later "Hamburger Jung", who settled down in the south of Germany in the long term - an eventful childhood in the truest sense of the word, and not just because of swimming.

As a boy, the now 84-year-old recalls, he grew up in the town of Zeitz in Saxony-Anhalt. There he could be found in the outdoor pool all summer long and gained his first experiences in the water. He was in the swimming club from the age of eight. He trained until he finally switched to competitive swimming at the age of 14. "Back then, there was still the so-called inner-German sporting traffic between the FRG and the GDR," recalls Hubert Kotte. "Teams like Neuwied swam against SG Berlin Schöneberg." The Zeitz swimming club competed against Hamburg, among others. A great success in 1960: the many years of hard training were rewarded and Kotte became champion in the 200 metre breaststroke in Cottbus. Hamburg agents (scouts, as they are known today) recognised Hubert's talent and wanted him to join their team. As Hubert's sister was already living in Hamburg at the time and he had been toying with the idea of joining the TUS Hamburg-Harburg club for some time, he left his homeland before the Berlin Wall was built in 1961 and finally moved to Hamburg. The "Hamburger Jung" spent four years in his adopted home.

Things changed again in 1963: Hubert met the love of his life in Bavaria. He married Elfriede in 1964 and stayed in the south from then on - until today. The only thing Hubert really missed were public indoor swimming pools in the region - only hotels and guesthouses had accessible pools. Fortunately, the Marktoberdorf indoor pool was built in 1967. Kotte was of course immediately on site, was present at the founding of the TSV and took on the role of sports director. Still very active himself, he took part in several competitions during this time. The now 84-year-old won many titles back then, including four Allgäu and one Swabian championship. Hubert trained as a swimming instructor at the Technical University of Munich (TU).

The indoor swimming pool in Füssen was opened in 1973. Hubert was already well known at this time and quickly became a swimming and lifeguard after successfully passing his exams. Good swimmers and squads gradually emerged in Füssen, which were also very successful: The women swam in the 2nd national league in 1980, including, for example, Petra Haußmann from Schwangau - the then 18-year-old became the 1990 all-German champion in the 400 metre medley in the Olympic pool in Munich. The mayor of Füssen at the time, Dr Paul Wengert, travelled to Munich especially for the award ceremony. Haußmann went on to take fifth place as the best European swimmer at the World Championships in Perth (Australia). Willi Baumgartner from Füssen also managed to bring a German title to the Lech in 1979 in the freestyle. A total of 28 Bavarian titles were won by the successful TSG women's relay teams, including Petra Haußmann, Anke Kotte, Daniela Teufele and Angi Toleti.

Water - the element of all life and yet not everyone's cup of tea

Swimming instructor Hubert Kotte has been introducing children and young people to swimming for decades - and with great success. It is the first milestone on the road to independence.

When Hubert Kotte goes shopping at the weekend these days, it can sometimes take longer: that's because he is known everywhere in the Ostallgäu - by young and old alike. But that's no wonder, because he taught them all how to swim! For generations, many people had their first experience of the cool water with the cult trainer. H₂O is the subject that Hubert has dedicated his life to and that still fascinates him to this day! However, the swimming coach is not only happy about best times, such as those of Petra Haußmann or Bettina Fritz, but also about many smaller successes. The greatest thing for him is to see that he can take away a child's fear of the water - the joy and relief when they can finally proudly present their seahorse badge.

"That's really the best thing for me - when you manage to take away a fearful child's fear and it then jumps into the water on its own and the fear is overcome."

The first contact with water

According to the German Life Saving Association (DLRG), the number of accidents involving non-swimmers was again alarmingly high in 2024. According to Hubert Kotte, it is advisable to start with the first water experiences as early as infancy and toddler age - with a baby swimming course. Water games and water gymnastics are offered in many pools from the age of four to 18 months. "Right from the start, little ones learn that water is a wonderful thing, a medium that can be used to have fun and cool down or warm up. And what's more, mum or dad are also involved in these courses!" An early swimming course is recommended as the next step, almost immediately after baby swimming. "Most children come to my swimming courses between the ages of three and five; however, after at least ten hours of practice, the children are only allowed to take the seahorse course. Water wings are a common aid for many children, but should be discarded at a certain point," smiles Hubert Kotte. "It's better to use aids such as waist belts or life jackets, which keep the body's centre of gravity on the surface of the water and ensure a better position in the water."

With many different forms of play, the "captain", as the former Hamburg native calls himself, ensures variety and a playful approach to swimming movements. "Fisherman, fisherman, how deep is the water?" is a favourite game. Songs are also sung to distract anxious children from the essentials. Metaphors take away the children's fear of the cool water. "Glide through the water like a fish" or "Pump yourself full of air and hold it like a ball; it can't sink either". The penguin mambo is also very popular. Exercises of this kind make it easier for children to get involved in the medium of water, distracted by the task at hand. But cute little UFOs in the water also help with breathing exercises so that children learn from an early age how to breathe in and out correctly in the water. After all, swimming can be great fun, right?

Always up-to-date

The "captain" doesn't just instruct, he also has to requalify and renew his swimming licence every three years. To do this, he has to travel all over the country. In 2022, Mr Kotte was in Potsdam for a training course, and this year he was in Frankfurt. But as a passionate swimming instructor, Hubert is always happy to take on these hardships - and will probably continue to do so for years to come. So hopefully he will remain a swimming idol and coach in the Allgäu for many years to come. Chapeau, keep it up!