Saturday, August 7th, 2021
Attacks after scandal with a horse
Schleu tries to flee from hatred in the net
The images of the modern pentathlon continue to have an effect – for national coach Kim Raisner with the exclusion from the Olympic Games, for the athlete Annika Schleu not only with all legitimate criticism but also with a flood of insults and threats. That’s why she is closing her Instagram account for the time being.
The modern pentathlete Annika Schleu has deactivated her Instagram account for the time being because of the numerous hateful comments after her Olympic drama in Tokyo. “I got bad comments shortly afterwards,” said the 31-year-old. “The account has not been deleted, but for my own protection I have deactivated it for the time being.” Her boyfriend and mother also deactivated their accounts.
There were “some words were chosen where people supposedly stand up for animal welfare and for living beings, but then speak to me or my relatives in a way where I say that is not ok, that goes far too far” said the Berliner. Schleu had been on the gold course at the Olympics after two disciplines before the horse she had been drawn refused several times.
She remained without points and came in 31st. Schleu used the whip at the request of national coach Kim Raisner (“Hit it right”), for which there was heavy criticism. Raisner was then excluded from the remaining competitions in Tokyo by the World Federation.
“I knew that pictures would go around the world that would not be beautiful, but I did not expect some kind of shit storm or so much negative hatred,” said Schleu. She feels “attacked when it is said that I am inhuman, when allegations of animal cruelty are voiced. I dealt with the horse to the best of my knowledge,” said the 31-year-old.
Although the athlete has deactivated her Instagram account, she says she has to continue to accept insulting messages. “Still, there are always people who get cell phone numbers that get email addresses,” she said. “You can’t completely protect yourself from it. Of course it was hard to have to read it all.”
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