Analysis: Alarm bells ringing for German athletics at 2023 Worlds

by Oliver Trust

BERLIN, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) 

The decline in German track and field is stark. The 70-member team didn't win a single medal at the 2023 Budapest World Athletics Championships.

For the first time since the championship's inception in 1983, Germany went home empty-handed.

From 2009 to 2022, Germany's medal haul decreased from nine to just two. Last year in Eugene, the nation secured a silver and a bronze.

Examining Olympic performances, Germany claimed 82 medals at Barcelona 1992. This tally declined to 65 in Atlanta 1996, 41 in Beijing 2008, and 37 in Tokyo 2020.

Due to its federal system, Germany lacks primary training and education centers similar to the Netherlands. Communication challenges among the 16 federal states result in various approaches, causing a drain on resources.

Despite receiving 370 million euros annually from the government, desired outcomes are not evident.

Athletes point out the insufficient financial backing for both them and upcoming talents. Unable to focus exclusively on their sport, they find themselves at a disadvantage against international competitors.

 "They are no professionals, but are expected to challenge professionals," athletes lament.

 "In Budapest, we didn't have a participant in some disciplines," said Jorg Bugner, the newly appointed sports director at the German Athletics Association.

Bugner's appointment was a response to the unsatisfactory results in Eugene in 2022.

As the 2024 Paris Olympics approach, concerns are mounting. Nevertheless, the association has articulated its ambition to return to the top five by the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

"We return from Hungary with a load of issues on our shoulders. We talk about coaches and athletes and our approach," Bugner commented, suggesting that a systemic overhaul is imperative.

Interestingly, the public's enthusiasm for investing in sports appears to wane. Previous endeavors to host the Olympic Games or other major events have been stifled by financial concerns. The prospect of the country benefiting from sports success doesn't resonate with many.