- Bulmahn becomes Buhmann: German runner eliminated from 400-meter relay
400-Meter runner Luna Bulmahn will not compete in the Olympic Games in Paris after the controversy surrounding the German mixed relay team. The German Athletics Association announced that Jean Paul Bredau, the starting runner, will compete in the 400-meter individual event today after apologizing.
The mixed relay team missed the final on Friday night, finishing seventh in the preliminary round. Bredau did not perform as expected, falling short of his personal best and blaming decisions made beforehand. "The DLV clearly stated that the fastest four should run. A different decision was made," Bredau complained. Bulmahn, who is in a relationship with Bredau, was not part of the relay team. Instead, Alica Schmidt, Manuel Sanders, and Eileen Demes ran.
Bulmahn had written on Instagram that she was the second-fastest German 400-meter athlete on paper. She stated that not being nominated for the mixed relay was not her decision. Schmidt is a regular member of the relay team and contributed to the Olympic qualification for Paris. Although neither Bredau nor Bulmahn named a name, their criticism was likely directed at Schmidt, whose season's best time is about half a second slower than Bulmahn's. However, it was Schmidt who secured the Olympic qualification with the relay team on the Bahamas.
Dispute over Olympic relay team selection: Decision was made by vote
According to the German association, the decision on the lineup was made unanimously by the coaching team, including the personal coach of Schmidt, Bulmahn, and Bredau. The decision was explained to the athletes.
DLV Sports Director Jörg Bügner emphasized in the statement that relay races are team sports. "The athletes and coaches form this team. Success depends on good teamwork and mutual trust," said Bügner.
The preliminary rounds of the 4x400-meter relays will take place on Friday, but without Bulmahn, who is scheduled to arrive on Monday. It is still unclear who will run alongside the regular relay team members Schmidt, Demes, and Skadi Schier.
Despite Luna Bulmahn's protests, she won't participate in the 400-meter events in the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris. Instead, her partner Jean Paul Bredau will compete in the 400-meter individual event, following his apology for underperforming in the mixed relay team's preliminary round in Paris.
