Top sport

A portrait of top clubs

In addition to recreational and popular sports, we have top-class clubs that also act as figureheads for our city. All clubs work in close cooperation with the state sports high school "Joh. Chr. Fr. GutsMuths" Jena. Here is a selection:

Basketball: Science City Jena

The basketball giants of Science City are one of the most important sporting figureheads and image bearers of the university city of Jena. At home in the Sparkassen-Arena since 2014, an average of almost 3,000 fans and spectators flock to Jena-Burgau to experience the best basketball players in the Free State of Thuringia live. In addition to the first league promotion and second league championship won in 2016, the runner-up finish in the German Youth Basketball League (U16) in 2019 is one of the greatest successes of the recent past and shows that the city on the Saale can also compete with the best youth programs in Germany when it comes to developing young talent. Listed among the 40 basketball clubs with the most members in Germany, Science City Jena is equally dedicated to competitive and popular sports and regularly inspires children from the age of 7 as part of school clubs and leisure camps.

The club's professional team currently plays in the ProA, the second-highest league in Germany.

Soccer (women and men): FC Carl Zeiss Jena

FC Carl Zeiss Jena is the city's best-known club. Its over 100-year history is characterized by great successes on the national and international stage. The club celebrated the GDR championship and cup victories several times. In the 1980s, the club also reached a European Cup final at international level. The men's team currently plays in the 4th league (Regionalliga Ost).

The women's team has been extremely successful in recent years, celebrating promotion to the 1st Women's Bundesliga in 2024. Here, the team plays against top international teams. Competing under the name FF USV until 2021, the integration into FC Carl Zeiss Jena has significantly improved the general conditions.

The club has a strong focus on youth development. The youth teams also play in the top leagues and enjoy excellent training at the sports school. Due to the short distances, numerous pitches and the extension of school time to 13 school years, talented players can develop optimally in Jena.

Thanks to its large fan base, the club has the most members in Thuringia.

Athletics: LC Jena, in particular:

Thomas Röhler Olympic and European champion in the javelin throw

With almost 400 members, LC Jena e.V. is one of the most successful athletics clubs in central Germany. It was founded in 2011 as an independent athletics club that places equal emphasis on competitive sport and popular sport. Top athlete Thomas Röhler, Olympic champion (2016) and European champion (2018), is an active member of the LC. He supports both children's athletics and the club's competitive squad. Competitions are regularly held in the Kernberg Stadium, which will be reopened in 2023. With the opening of the functional building in 2024, the conditions for national youth competitions have now also been created.

Badminton: SV GutsMuths Jena

SV GutsMuths Jena is the most successful badminton club in the region. With a focus on youth training, for which the club was awarded the "Green Ribbon" and a child protection seal in 2019, it offers young talents excellent prospects with several teams, including a second division team, which was once again voted "Jena Team of the Year". The club is rounded off by a large recreational sports department, whose primary aim is to have fun with the fastest backstroke sport in the world.

Archery: SV GutsMuths Jena

Another department of SV GutsMuths has enjoyed considerable success for many years. Unfortunately, it is no longer based at the sports high school, but a number of athletes who trained in Jena remain loyal to the club. Michelle Kroppen, who recently won the silver medal in the team at the Olympic Games in Paris, deserves special mention. This confirms her strong performances and successes of recent years. She already won the bronze medal with the German team in Tokyo.

Triathlon: Triathlon Jena

As a young sport, triathlon in Jena can already point to some highlights. With Steffen Justus and Kathrin Müller, two home-grown athletes from Jena have won medals at world championships. Steffen Justus took part in the 2012 Olympic Games in London (16th place). In addition, after a 12-year absence, the sport will return to the Jena Sports School in the 2024/25 school year and will once again offer ideal conditions for combining sport and school education. The annual Paradise Triathlon, which attracts over 1,000 participants from all over Germany, is of national importance. In 2024, Jena will host the German Junior Championships.

Handball: HBV Jena 90

Handball is one of Jena's up-and-coming sports. The club's good work is geared towards the continuous development of young talent. In 2024, the first attempt to qualify for the newly created Junior Bundesliga was successful. With the admission to the Jena Sports School, handball benefits greatly from the improved framework conditions.