The debate about Alica Schmidt instead of Luna Bulmahn in the DLV mixed relay is never-ending. There are only a few days left until we have to focus on the essentials again.
On Friday, everything is at stake. That’s when the preliminary heats for the 4×400-meter relay take place. But the runners from the German Athletics Association (DLV) are still busy with last Friday evening.
The mixed relay team clearly missed the finals, finishing seventh in the preliminary round. Starting runner Jean Paul Bredau did not show the performance he has recently shown: he travelled to Paris with a season best of 45.03 seconds, but “only” managed 46.58 seconds in the relay. After the botched run, he said: “It won’t have been due to my form today. It was more due to what happened before the relay. Some decisions were made that not everyone agreed to.” And, the 25-year-old continued: “The DLV has made it very clear: the fastest four should run. A different decision was made.”
Luna Bulmahn, the runner who is in a relationship with Bredau, wrote on Instagram that she was the second fastest German 400-meter athlete on paper. The fact that she was not considered for the mixed relay was not her decision and was not in her hands. Alica Schmidt, Manuel Sanders and Eileen Demes also ran instead.
Dispute in the DLV relay
In fact, Bulmahn had set a personal best of 51.72 seconds shortly before the Games, while Schmidt’s season best is 52.18 seconds. Schmidt is a regular member of the relay team, has recently shown more consistent performances than Bulmahn and also contributed to the Olympic qualification for Paris.
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Bulmahn will not be used after the discord in the French capital. Bredau was allowed to compete in the individual 400 meters, but missed the semi-finals. 45.40 seconds were neither enough for the necessary victory nor for one of the two fastest times. He then announced that he was available for the 4×400 meter relay.
Debate about Alica Schmidt causes a stir
After internal discussions, Bredau apologized to the team. When asked whether he regretted his statements, he said yes. He did not want to comment further. “I put my phone away so that I could focus fully on the sport.”
The topic is causing such a stir on social media that the DLV condemns hostility towards its athletes after the relay dispute. The association said it “decisively distances itself from any form of hate speech in connection with the composition of the mixed relay against the athletes concerned.” “We will pursue defamation, hostility or personal injuries through our cooperation with the Frankfurt Public Prosecutor’s Office,” the DLV confirmed.
The DLV team still has time until Friday to clear their heads and concentrate on what’s important: running.
Sources: DPA, ,
Source: Stern
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