The 18-year-old competitive swimmer Noelle Benkler has taken on the role of ambassador for the Bundeswehr and Reservists Running Team e.V., as announced by the organization on Friday. With her engagement as ambassador, she intends to sensitize especially young people to the values of community, respect, recognition, and solidarity. For Noelle Benkler, sport is far more than the pursuit of personal best times. Discipline, team spirit, endurance, and the will not to give up even in challenging situations are, for her, among the central values of elite sport.
At the same time, she sees numerous similarities with the experiences of female and male soldiers, reservists, and deployed personnel. “As ambassador, I want to build a bridge between young competitive sport and the military community. At the same time, I want to bring my generation closer to the stories and fates of people who deserve support and recognition,” Noelle Benkler explained.
Noelle Benkler aims to reach especially young people
A particular concern for Benkler is to reach young people with these topics and to raise awareness that memory and solidarity are not a matter of age. “We have not forgotten. Every athletic achievement can also be a sign of connectedness and respect—whether it’s a kilometer of running or cycling, or a lap in the swimming pool.”
With her new role, Noelle Benkler combines athletic passion with social engagement, according to the press release. She regards the role of ambassador as a special responsibility that she intends to fulfill with great respect and personal conviction.
