On the strength of a 2016 season where the pair won seven gold medals highlighted by podium-topping performances at the Rio Olympics and the SWATCH FIVB World Tour Finals in Canada Ludwig and Walkenhorst qualified for their third-straight world championship appearance together via their international ranking.  While both of Walkenhorst’s appearances have been with Ludwig with a fifth and 17th in the last two editions, Ludwig will be participating in the FIVB World Championships for the seventh-straight time with the 2013 fifth in Poland being her best placement.  The Germans’ 2016 season was the best-ever performance by an European pair on the FIVB World Tour as Ludwig and Walkenhorst won 69 of 79 contests highlighted by winning streaks of 18-, 13-, 11- and 10-straight match victories.  With Ludwig having off-season right shoulder surgery and Walkenhorst slowed with various ailments, the Germans have had slow start to the 2017 campaign with their best finish to date being a fifth in Rio.