Sophie Steinlein / Catherine Bartelheimer

Sophie Steinlein helms one of Germany's leading 49erFX crews with Catherine Bartelheimer, the pair making the German Olympic squad after finishing as the top German boat, fifth, at the 2025 World Championship in Cagliari, then taking silver at the 2026 Trofeo Princesa Sofia.

There is a unique family story too: Sophie's twin sister Theresa was selected to the German Olympic squad in iQFOiL windsurfing, making them the first twins in the squad's history.

Steinlein is firmly on an upward curve toward Los Angeles 2028.

Catherine Bartelheimer, who sails with the Norddeutscher Regatta Verein and Segelclub Inning am Ammersee, crews for helm Sophie Steinlein.

At their first World Championship together in Cagliari in 2025 they were the best German crew, finishing fifth with a race win and seven top-five results, earning a place in the German Olympic squad.

Backed by Princess Sofia silver in 2026, Bartelheimer and Steinlein are on a clear upward curve toward LA 2028.