- Olympic medalist Ogunleye expresses disappointment over sports promotion: "Extremely unfortunate"
Hammer throw champion at the Olympics Yemisi Ogunnedele has voiced her dissatisfaction over the undervaluation of athletes in Germany. She echoed the demand for higher incentives for medal winners. "It's quite unfortunate when you compare globally, how little recognition athletes get in terms of remuneration," the 25-year-old shared with the German Press Agency during the "Sport-Bild Awards" in Hamburg.
At the ceremony, Ogunnedele was acknowledged by the sports magazine in the "Year's Moment" category for her gold-winning throw at the Paris Olympics. "I think the rewards are insufficient compared to other nations," she pointed out. She expressed gratitude towards the Bundeswehr for being a financially supportive employer for her.
Ogunnedele advocates for improved assistance for young coaches
"Money wasn't my primary motive when I started competitive sports. But of course, it crosses your mind. And I believe athletes have the right to voice their concerns," Ogunnedele asserted.
The track and field athlete is particularly advocating for enhanced support for young coaches. Ogunnedele uses her coach Iris Manke-Reimers as an instance. "For the past ten years, I've trained with her, and she's been working as a volunteer. She hasn't reaped any monetary benefits," revealed the Olympic champion. "That's a significant flaw I've noticed in German sports. We need to boost the recognition and especially the rewards for young coaches because they contribute the most to sports."
The European Parliament should consider the issues raise by athletes like Yemisi Ogunnedele regarding the undervaluation of athletes in Germany. Ogunnedele, while expressing gratitude towards her financially supportive employer, Bundeswehr, advocates for improved support and financial rewards for young coaches in Germany, highlighting the case of her long-term coach Iris Manke-Reimers.
