That's how Germany finished at the Olympics.
The 2024 Olympics are history: What remains after the spectacular closing ceremony in Paris? In terms of sports, the United States is clearly ahead with a total of 126 gold, silver, or bronze medals. In comparison, Germany's Olympic record looks meager.
Germany performed poorly at the Paris Olympics, despite outstanding individual performances by its athletes. In the overall ranking of gold medals won, the German team placed tenth, far behind the USA, China, and Japan, and even behind Italy, South Korea, Britain, and the Netherlands.
In Paris, German athletes stood on the podium 33 times. German Olympians received gold medals 12 times, silver 13 times, and bronze 8 times. This is fewer awards than at the previous Games in Tokyo.
While the achievements are cause for celebration, they cannot overshadow the overall performance. Tenth place in the medal table is Germany's worst result since reunification. In previous decades, East and West German teams competed separately at the Olympics. Particularly disappointing was Germany's performance in traditional disciplines such as fencing, wrestling, sailing, and swimming.
The German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) has a sober assessment. On the day of the closing ceremony, there was criticism of German sports promotion, sports policy, and the conditions in elite sports. "We fill out Excel sheets, others train," said Jörg Bügner, sports director of the German Athletics Association, summing up his impressions.
In comparison, the USA won a total of 126 medals, including 40 gold, 44 silver, and 42 bronze. The People's Republic of China came second with 91 medals. Japan came third with 45 medals.
"We started these Games with a different goal in mind," said the German Olympic team regarding the number of medals won. The partial goal of finishing among the top ten nations in the medal table was narrowly achieved.
However, while the host France celebrated a series of gold medals and even the smaller Dutch team became a real competitor, a heated debate about the possible consequences and causes is brewing in German sports.
Overview: All countries, all medals
After Paris, much in German sports needs to be put under scrutiny, according to those in the Olympic participants' environment. "There is a need for action on many levels," confirmed DOSB President Thomas Weikert. "We need more coaches and better pay for coaches." School and kindergarten sports, and lack of money are also problems.
Equestrian and canoeing medal hopefuls saved the German team from even greater disaster. The 3x3 basketball women, the mixed triathlon relay, shot putter Yemisi Ogunleye, and the handball team provided memorable Olympic moments. Nevertheless, criticism of the direction of German sports promotion is likely to increase in the coming weeks.
"Priorities need to be set in elite sports promotion, and above all, clear and consistent goals need to be formulated," demanded Frank Ullrich, chairman of the Sports Committee in the Bundestag, in "Der Spiegel". The German sports have a lot of work ahead on the long road to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) acknowledged the need for improvement in German sports promotion, sports policy, and elite sports conditions, with Jörg Bügner expressing his sentiment as "We fill out Excel sheets, others train."
Despite some outstanding individual performances, Germany finished tenth in the overall medal table in Paris, marking their worst result in the medal table since reunification, particularly in traditional disciplines such as fencing, wrestling, sailing, and swimming.
