{{short description|German sailor}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2017}} {{Infobox sailor | name = Florian Spalteholz | image = | image_size = | caption = | full_name = Florian Spalteholz | nickname = | nationality = {{GER}} | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1977|3|4|df=yes}} | birth_place = [[Hamburg]], [[West Germany]] | death_date = | death_place = | height = {{height|m=1.77|abbr=on}} | weight = {{convert|70|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}} | website = | country = | classes = [[Multihull]] | club = [[Norddeutscher Regatta Verein]] | coach = Rigo de Nijs (NOR) | medaltemplates= | show-medals = yes }}
'''Florian Spalteholz''' (born 4 March 1977) is a German former sailor who specialized in the multihull ([[Tornado (sailboat)|Tornado]]) class.<ref>{{cite sports-reference|title=Florian Spalteholz|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/sp/florian-spalteholz-1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200417081120/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/sp/florian-spalteholz-1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 April 2020|accessdate=27 June 2020}}</ref> Together with his partner [[Johannes Polgar]], he was named one of the country's top sailors in the mixed multihull catamaran for the [[2008 Summer Olympics]], finishing in eighth place.<ref name=spalteholz-beijing>{{cite news|title=Spain wins gold in Tornado as Australia loses gamble|url=http://2008.sina.com.cn/en/news/2008-08-21/16477858.html|publisher=[[Sina Corp]]|date=21 August 2008|accessdate=27 June 2020}}</ref> A member of North German Regatta Club ({{langx|de|[[Norddeutscher Regatta Verein]]}}), Spalteholz trained for most of his competitive sailing career under the tutelage of his Norwegian-born personal coach Rigo de Nijs.<ref>{{cite news|title=Das deutsche Dreimal-Sechs-Team für Olympia|trans-title=The three-time, six-crew German team for the Olympics|language=de|url=https://www.shz.de/regionales/themen/kieler-woche/das-deutsche-dreimal-sechs-team-fuer-olympia-id469126.html|publisher=[[Schleswig-Holsteinischer Zeitungsverlag]]|date=30 June 2008|accessdate=27 June 2020}}</ref>
Spalteholz competed for the German sailing squad as a 31-year-old skipper in the [[Sailing at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Tornado|Tornado]] class at the [[2008 Summer Olympics]] in [[Beijing]]. Leading up to their maiden Games, he and skipper Polgar topped the selection criteria in a duel against brothers Tino and Niko Mittelmeier for the country's Tornado berth, based on their cumulative scores attained at two international regattas stipulated by the [[German Sailing Federation]] ({{langx|de|Deutscher Segler Verband}}).<ref>{{cite news|title=Die ersten Hamburger für Olympia|trans-title=The Hamburg natives are going to the Olympics|language=de|url=https://www.bild.de/sport/olympia/zwei-wie-ein-tornado-zu-olympia-4376920.bild.html|publisher=[[Bild]]|date=24 April 2008|accessdate=27 June 2020}}</ref> The German duo started off the race series in the middle of the fleet until shifty wind conditions propelled them to the front in the final half, with a single victory and a triad of top-five marks, making both Spalteholz and Polgar eligible for the medal race.<ref>{{cite news|title=Echavarri and Paz Tie With Bundock and Ashby|url=https://www.sailing.org/news/4263.php|publisher=[[World Sailing]]|date=17 August 2008|accessdate=23 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Echavarri and Paz Team To Beat In Tornado Medal Race|url=https://www.sailing.org/news/4250.php|publisher=[[World Sailing]]|date=20 August 2008|accessdate=23 June 2020}}</ref> An unforeseen capsize by the German duo on the initial run, however, caused their medal chances to vanish, dropping them to eighth overall with 74 net points.<ref name=spalteholz-beijing/><ref>{{cite news|title=Echavarri and Paz of Spain Win Tornado Gold|url=https://www.sailing.org/news/4298.php#.Xvb78pMzYyk|publisher=[[World Sailing]]|date=20 August 2008|accessdate=23 June 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Beijing 2008: Open Tornado Class|url=http://www.2008.nbcolympics.com/sailing/resultsandschedules/rsc=SAX006000/standings.html|work=[[Beijing 2008]]|publisher=[[NBC Olympics]]|accessdate=11 July 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120711172723/http://www.2008.nbcolympics.com/sailing/resultsandschedules/rsc=SAX006000/standings.html|archive-date=11 July 2012}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{World Sailing|id=GERFS17|www=florian-spalteholz}} * {{Olympics.com|florian-spalteholz}} * {{Olympedia}} * {{web archive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120720143236/http://www.2008.nbcolympics.com/athletes/athlete=62298/bio/index.html |title=Florian Spalteholz at NBC 2008 Olympics website |date=dmy}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Spalteholz, Florian}} [[Category:1977 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:German male sailors (sport)]] [[Category:Olympic sailors for Germany]] [[Category:Sailors at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Tornado]] [[Category:Sailors (sport) from Hamburg]] {{Germany-yachtracing-bio-stub}}