Hannes Ocik

Hannes Ocik, born on June 8, 1991, in Rostock, Germany, has established himself as a prominent figure in international rowing since his junior career. Weighing 91 kg and standing at 190 cm, Ocik began his representative career in 2009, winning a gold medal at the World Junior Rowing Championships in the men’s junior eight. He continued his success at the U23 level, securing a silver medal in the coxed four in 2010 and a gold medal in the coxless four at the World Rowing U23 Championships in Amsterdam in 2011. In 2012, he earned a bronze medal in the coxless pair at the U23 World Championships in Lithuania. This early success laid the groundwork for his transition into the senior German national team, where he quickly ascended to the top ranks.

Ocik joined the German senior squad in 2013, becoming one of the new oarsmen in the reconfigured Deutschlandachter after the 2012 London Olympics. He played a crucial role in the crew, securing a silver medal at the 2013 World Rowing Championships. By 2015, he had taken the stroke seat, leading the German eight to multiple podium finishes at European regattas and another silver medal at the 2015 World Rowing Championships. His leadership from the stroke seat continued through the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics, where the Deutschlandachter earned an Olympic silver medal. His consistent performance and ability to steer the boat’s rhythm were key factors in the team’s ongoing achievements.

From 2017 to 2019, Ocik, still in the stroke seat, led the German men’s eight to a period of dominance, winning three consecutive World Championship titles. During this time, in June 2017, the Deutschlandachter, with Ocik at stroke, set a new world’s best time of 5:18.68 at the World Rowing Cup II in Poznan, a record that stood until 2021. He also earned multiple European Championship gold medals, adding to his collection of accolades. His career culminated in another Olympic silver medal at the Tokyo 2020 (held in 2021) Summer Olympics, marking his second Olympic medal. Outside of rowing, Ocik is employed as a policeman by the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania State Police, balancing his demanding athletic career with professional responsibilities. For his athletic achievements, he was awarded the Silver Laurel Leaf by German Federal President Joachim Gauck in November 2016.