Seventy years of stories echo within these walls. This is the Sportgymnasium Dresden. It is more than just a school. It is a training ground for champions. A place where young athletes chase their Olympic dreams.
The Sportgymnasium Dresden was founded in 1954. It started as a Kinder- und Jugendsportschule. Its first location was in the 45. Oberschule in Dresden-Reick. That building is now the Hülße-Gymnasium. The school moved to Cotta in 1956. Then it moved to Klotzsche in 1963. In 1969, the school found a home on Parkstraße. New facilities opened in 1971 and 1972.
In 1992, it officially became the Sportgymnasium Dresden. The German Olympic Sports Confederation recognized it as an Elite School of Sports in 2000. The Elbe River flooded the school in 2002. This damaged computer rooms, the archives, and the library. Instead of renovating, the city built a new school. In 2007, the Sportgymnasium Dresden moved to its current location. It is in the Ostragehege district near the Messe Dresden.
Here at the Sportgymnasium Dresden, students balance rigorous training with academics. The school serves students in grades 5 through 12. All students learn English starting in grade 5. In grade 6, they can choose French or Russian.
The Sportgymnasium Dresden offers training in many sports. These include athletics, swimming and ice hockey. You can also practice volleyball, and water jumping here. Students get six hours of sports training each week. This is in addition to their club training. From grades 6 to 10, students have regular sports classes. They also have specialized sports training. The teachers are also certified trainers. This ensures that training aligns with schoolwork. In upper grades, students take advanced sports courses. These courses include both theory and practice.
To be admitted to the Sportgymnasium Dresden, students must meet general requirements for grammar schools in Saxony. They also need a recommendation from their state sports association. This recommendation confirms their athletic ability.
The Sportgymnasium Dresden also has a boarding school. This is for students who live far away. The boarding school is in five renovated buildings. These buildings can house up to 100 athletes.
The Sportgymnasium Dresden has produced 35 Olympic victories. Its students have earned 85 world championship titles. Marc Huster is one of the school’s famous alumni. He is a world and European champion weightlifter. He won a silver medal at the Olympics. He remembers the structured life at the school. It shaped his career. Today, he is a sports commentator.
The Sportgymnasium Dresden celebrated its 70th anniversary recently. This milestone highlights the school’s lasting impact. It is a place where young athletes can achieve their dreams. The school nurtures talent. It fosters academic and athletic excellence. As you stand here, you can feel the energy and dedication. It is palpable. This is what makes the Sportgymnasium Dresden special.