Film “The Swimmers”: Spandauer trains escaped sisters – Netflix is ​​now showing their story

The story of Sven Spannekrebs, 42, is a very special one – and can now be seen for millions on Netflix: in the film “The Swimmers”. The swimming coach from Berlin-Spandau (250,000 inhabitants) is played by a real 1A celebrity: Matthias Schweighöfer.

It tells of the escape of the Syrian sisters Yusra and Sarah Mardini, who are completely normal girls, until bombs suddenly fall during the civil war. They flee across the sea, land in Berlin with the Spandau 04 water friends – and swim their way back to life.

In 2016, Yusra, who now has German citizenship, took part in the Olympic Games in Rio as a swimmer. Always at her side: Spandau 04 swimming coach Spandau 04, who are based in the Olympic Park in Westend. In the Tagesspiegel newsletter for Berlin-Spandau, the real Sven…

…about Matthias Schweighöfer: “Last year Matthias Schweighöfer came to see us in the Olympic Park. I was a little nervous when we first met, but that quickly subsided. We talked for a couple of hours, not much about the film, but privately. He wanted to get to know me.”

There is a scene at Tempelhof Airport when the bus arrives and a man greets everyone who is getting off: That’s me.

The real “Sven” also takes part in the film

…about “Sven” in the film: “I think he hit me quite well (laughs). I never have the feeling: Phew, no, I’m not like that at all. Incidentally, Matthias is a really good swimmer and used to be in a swimming club.”

…the swimming pool in the film: “The outdoor pool does not show our own facility. The pools are in London. The counter-current channel in Berlin is located in the Sportforum Hohenschönhausen.”

…whether he, the real Sven, also takes part in the film: “Clear! There is a scene at Tempelhof Airport when the bus arrives and a man greets everyone who is getting off: That’s me.”

…about the Spandau Water Friends: “Matthias Schweighöfer wears the real training clothes from the water friends, with lettering and logo. That’s extraordinary for the club: The film is running worldwide on Netflix and is number 1 in over 20 countries. I’m no longer with the water friends since this year, but I remain on friendly terms.”

…his new job at the Special Olympics, which are coming to Berlin in 2023: “I work on the organizing committee and want to introduce civil society to the Games, want to involve schools and clubs. A spaceship will land here next summer! It’s going to be really big, bigger than the Paralympics, just with fewer spectators. 7000 athletes are in Berlin. Teams will sleep and train in Spandau. Competitions take place on the Wannsee and next door in the Olympic Park. I’ve seen a lot, but such a sports festival with people with intellectual disabilities – that’s really extraordinary. I have rarely felt so much enthusiasm and gratitude.”

…about his Spandau: “I live in Staaken, but I grew up in the old town, Stresow, that was my neighborhood. First the Ernst-Ludwig-Heim elementary school, then the Lily Braun and finally Abi at the OSZ in Haselhorst.”

Here are the other topics in the Spandau newsletter

Our district newsletter already has 270,000 subscriptions to the Tagesspiegel. And we look forward to seeing you too! In the district newsletters you will find exclusive news, neighborhood debates, many dates, links and tips – always district by district, once a week. The Tagesspiegel district newsletter is available free of charge at tagesspiegel.de/districts. Here are other topics that you can read in the current Spandau newsletter

• Matthias Schweighöfer plays swimming coach from Spandau: “He hit me well”
• New police station for Staaken: the schedule, the role model
• 4000 people have reported: 1st election worker balance sheet in Spandau
• Christmas Market: From today, free admission to the citadel during the day
• City hall postpones market square conversion: The city council gives the first details
• Spandau SV returns: Now even Berlin’s sports senator is coming
• Kladow Waldorf School: the plans for the new hall – and fresh lottery money
• new idea for Postbrunnen – and an update on the high-rise district
• Saved from the scrap: What will become of Volkmar Haase’s work of art – and where the work of art is stored
• Kladow constant annoyance: Wild boars should be chased away
• “More Papal than the Pope”: Anger about Christmas trees in City Hall
• Glienicke Lake: Solution for moguls
• Christmas markets in Siemensstadt and at the Barfly
• children’s cinema in the thatched roof chapel
• Bloody crime novels and cheers in the puppet theater
• Michael Preetz comes to Spandau – and meets a city councilor with a Hertha past
• …all that read compact and bundled in the Tagesspiegel district newsletter: tagesspiegel.de/bezirke

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