- "In Cold Water" by Laura Ludwig as co-commentator
Laura Ludwig spent her first day after announcing her retirement from beach volleyball at the beach volleyball stadium. The 38-year-old was thrown into the deep end just 12 hours after her career-ending announcement, joining ARD as a co-commentator. "I was thrown into the cold water, but it was incredibly fun. Of course, it's something I enjoy and find interesting," Ludwig told Deutsche Presse-Agentur in Paris afterwards.
The Rio Olympic champion commented on Nils Ehlers and Clemens Wickler's quarterfinal win at the Eiffel Tower stadium. Earlier, she had jokingly signed an expert contract with ARD moderator Alexander Bommes in the Olympic studio. "It's obviously a job in itself. You have to learn a lot. It's definitely worth the experience. We'll see if I comment on one or two more games," Ludwig said.
She is retiring after an exceptionally successful career. She participated in five Olympic Games, winning gold in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 with Kira Walkenhorst. A year later, they became world champions. After the birth of two children, Ludwig fought her way back to Paris with former world-class indoor player Louisa Lippmann. However, the duo failed to win a game in the disappointing preliminary round and was eliminated on Saturday. Together, they plan to compete in the European Championships, German Championships, and a tournament in Hamburg before she ends her career.
The media covered Laura Ludwig's transition into a co-commentator for ARD after her retirement announcement. The media also highlighted Ludwig's analysis of Nils Ehlers and Clemens Wickler's quarterfinal win in the Eiffel Tower stadium.
