What sets Felix apart is no coincidence, but the result of hard work, discipline, and strategic decisions. His career is characterized by perseverance and a clear sense of purpose. And since luck favors the brave, he lives up to his Latin name: “Felix” – the lucky one.
The student's calendar is filled to the brim with lectures and rowing. While his fellow students are still asleep, he has usually already completed training sessions on the Neckar River. But Felix has a knack for organization. Every week is strictly planned. The double burden is high. Thanks to the scholarship, individual tutorials will offer relief in the future.
The Bonn native is, among other things, German champion in lightweight coxless fours, a racing boat in which each of the four rowers operates only one oar. This success is astonishing because, unlike his competitors, Felix started competitive sports late.
From School Club to the Ohio River
In eighth grade, Felix discovered his passion through the school's rowing club. What made it special was that the students organized themselves, with the older ones training the younger ones. This taught Felix to take on responsibility at a young age, first as a boat attendant and later as club president.
He was drawn to the community. But he would have liked to have gone a few steps further: “I'm very competitive and like to push myself. I missed that a bit in the club.”
A scholarship for a high school year in Cincinnati, USA, enabled him to do just that. Felix joined a rowing club in the city on the Ohio River, which – typically American – offered more competitive opportunities than in Germany. For him, that meant training six days a week. This was his first encounter with competitive sports: he rowed in a lightweight double scull with his partner. Together, they qualified for the national finals – but Felix had to return to Germany before the race. It was a bitter moment, but he took it in stride.
Heilbronn and the Chance for a Top-Level Sports Scholarship
After graduating from high school, Felix looked for a place to study. His new location had to meet one special criterion: it had to be near a river. Felix completed his dual degree in industrial engineering in Heidelberg and Düsseldorf. There, he got into competitive sports again and was seen rowing in Düsseldorf Harbor and on the Neckar River. His late entry into competitive sports was tough, but he persevered and eventually qualified for the German Championships. In his first attempts, he finished at the back of the field, but that didn't stop him from sticking with it. His persistence paid off: in July 2025, he won the German championship title in the lightweight coxless four.
And what brought Felix to Heilbronn? “I wanted to do my master's degree at a really good technical university in Germany. The TUM Campus Heilbronn convinced me with its focus on AI.” The other unbeatable factor: its proximity to the Neckar River.
He soon set up a student group with his girlfriend at the local rowing club. Felix benefited from his organizational experience at school. “That's the advantage of a young campus. You can help shape and influence so much here.”
Felix had known about the elite sports scholarship for some time. “I applied immediately when it was offered at the Heilbronn universities.” When the young rower was selected, he was delighted: “For me, the scholarship means not only financial support but also great appreciation!”
Felix Nack is proof that happiness can often be found where passion meets perseverance – and that in life, you often must take the helm yourself.
More information about the elite sports scholarship
Contact the elite sports representative for Heilbronn's universities at
willner@spitzensport-stipendium.de