Die Routinen - 45 Sekunden

25 Years of Literaturhaus Schwaben: A Contrast in Difficult Times
Readings and discussion with Son Lewandowski and Kim Bui, moderated by Thomas Susanka
“Die Routinen” dissects a world of competitive sports that everyone suspects is tough, but no one sees—or wants to see—how exploitative a system is that is coated in so much glitter and spray paint. For Amik, every gram, every competition, every repetition counts. And for that, she accepts every line crossed and bows to the competitive principles of her sport. Son Lewandowski powerfully explores sports and politics, fragile relationships, and the limits of her own aging body, as well as the biggest abuse scandal in sports history. She speaks with Kim Bui, a three-time Olympic gymnast. But her career has been marked by deprivation, pain, and illnesses such as bulimia. In her book “45 Seconds,” she vividly describes the willpower required to train day after day for a competition that lasts only 45 seconds. Son Lewandowski, born in 1988, lives in Cologne as an author and curator. Kim Bui, born in Tübingen in 1989 to parents who were refugees from Vietnam and Laos, lives in Stuttgart.

Supported by the Baden-Württemberg Foundation, Literature Summer 2026