- Fencing coach Kim Raisner is retiring.
Former Modern Pentathlete Kim Raisner has decided to step down as the German national coach. "I've resigned. I will stop on September 30th," the 51-year-old Berliner said at the conclusion of the Olympic Games in Paris. She cited certain aspects of the federation that she didn't agree with as her reason for leaving. "Given the current situation, I don't want to continue and have decided to move on," explained the 2004 Athens Olympic fifth-place finisher.
In the future, she will be training young athletes in the Brandenburg state association. She expects things to be a bit quieter, allowing her to take a step back and reflect. "Maybe I can finally enjoy a two or three-week vacation. I can still watch it on TV and I'm not saying I won't be invested, but perhaps it's time for a generational change," said Raisner.
Raisner was in the spotlight due to the Tokyo equestrian controversy
The 51-year-old has been the national coach since 2005 and achieved her greatest success with Lena Schöneborn's Olympic victory in 2008 in Beijing. At the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2021, she was in the spotlight due to the equestrian controversy surrounding Annika Zillekens. The athlete, then known as Schleu, desperately tried to force her reluctant horse to continue by hitting it with a crop. Raisner encouraged her and both were reported for animal cruelty. The cases were later dropped.
In Paris, Zillekens finished 15th after being promoted to the final due to the withdrawal of the British rider Kate French. Afterwards, the 34-year-old confirmed that this was her last competition.
Raisner mentioned that she will be training young athletes in a different region, specifically in the Brandenburg state association in Germany, after stepping down as the German national coach. In Paris, Annika Zillekens, who was in the spotlight due to the equestrian controversy with Raisner in Tokyo, finished her competition and announced that it was her last one.
