German record sprinter Ansah racially insulted
Sprinter Owen Ansah triumphs historically on Saturdays at the German Championships over 100 meters. However, Ansah, who was the first German sprinter to break the 10-second barrier, was racially insulted afterwards. The German Athletics Association (DLV) is considering filing police reports.
"We as DLV have always had a clear stance. The DLV stands for diversity. The national team is a clear reflection of our society. And we have a clear zero-tolerance policy," said DLV sports director Jörg Bügner at the end of the German Championships in Braunschweig.
There is no place for "racism, hate speech, exclusion, and xenophobia" in athletics or in society as a whole. "It should make us all think hard when we find such comments in such large numbers on the net," Bügner said, who also feels personally attacked and "has no understanding" of why "this still happens in our time."
The DLV will also continue to "do everything we can to remind everyone that athletics is a reflection of society and stands for diversity. And we will do everything we can to protect our athletes," said Bügner.
Ansah had broken the German record in 9.99 seconds over 100 meters on Saturdays, making him the first German sprinter to run under ten seconds. "The German record can be taken away from me again. But the fact that I was the first German to run under ten seconds, that can't be taken away from me," Ansah said: "I'm mega happy." While Ansah took advantage of the beautiful weather with plenty of sunshine on Saturdays, it rained heavily on Sundays, making top performances difficult.
Tears of Drama for Vetter
"We've seen nice results," said DLV sports director Bügner, but he also knew: "In some disciplines, we are not internationally competitive." With Olympic javelin champion Malaika Mihambo, who had to withdraw due to a coronavirus infection, and decathlon hope Leo Neugebauer, who is preparing for the Olympics in the USA, the "goosebumps moment" (Gina Lückenkemper) from Ansah was the only real highlight of these rather lackluster championships.
But there were some promising signs. The performances of Kristin Pudenz with the discus (65.93 meters), Julian Weber in the spear throw (86.63 meters), or approximately Yemisi Ogunleye with the shot put (19.25) gave hope for the Olympics. But if the German team in Paris is looking for redemption after the historic WM debacle at the Olympics, the aces Mihambo and Neugebauer will have to deliver the medals.
Johannes Vetter experienced a tearful drama as the German record holder in the javelin's Olympic dream was shattered. The Offenburger struggled with pain in his right shoulder and right elbow during Weber's title win (86.63 meters) and could only throw 73.16 meters, finishing in sixth place. "We put everything on the line and unfortunately lost," said Vetter.
Not as planned it went for Hindrances-Star Gesa Felicitas Krause. The Vice-European Champion had to give in to her training partner Olivia Gürth in the duel after 9:46,12 minutes. "She makes training hell for me, without her I would not have been so quickly back in shape", said Krause about Gürth, who secured her first German Championship title with a strong final sprint in 9:45,01 minutes.
The German Athletics Association ( DLV ) expressed their commitment to combating racism and xenophobia, stating that there's no place for such behaviors in athletics or society. Jörg Bügner, the DLV sports director, expressed his dismay at the racial insults directed towards sprinter Owen Ansah. DLV is considering filing police reports following the incident at the German Championships.
