Wednesday, December 8th, 2021
Because she was already in China
Olympic champion does not rule out boycott
Olympic champion Natalie Geisenberger is not enthusiastic about the Olympic toboggan run in Yanqin. She says she won’t have another World Cup or championship there. She is considering a boycott for the 2022 Winter Games. Not everyone is convinced of it.
Double Olympic champion Natalie Geisenberger does not rule out a boycott of the Winter Games in Beijing in 2022. “The conditions that we experienced there speak in favor of not necessarily going back there. I am now considering myself for the Olympic Games – with the experience from now – whether I would do that to myself again,” said the 33-year-old luge rider from Bayerischer Rundfunk after the experience of her three-week stay in China before the start of the season.
She would not complete another World Cup on the new toboggan run in Yanqing. “No, definitely not. With the experience definitely not for a World Cup or a World Championship,” said Geisenberger. “It would be a very, very tough step because the Olympics are the greatest for an athlete.” A decision has not yet been made. “But it won’t be easy,” said Geisenberger. The team for the Olympics will be nominated after the Winterberg World Cup on January 2nd.
Felix Loch doesn’t believe in a boycott. “As athletes, we can only raise our hands, in general a lot needs to be changed. If Natalie or the whole German toboggan team says they don’t drive there, the Olympics would still take place,” said the 2010 and 2014 Olympic champion on Wednesday. “It is the right decision to clarify it on a political and not a sporting basis,” said Loch.
Head coach Norbert Loch also confirmed the harsh conditions during the stay in China. “I thought I would wash all hands, but that was a special challenge. My demand is that the IOC regulates in its leadership how the athletes are dealt with,” said Loch, who understands the criticism of his athletes. “They are mature athletes, they are allowed to say anything, Natalie has also presented her position, I did not contradict,” said the national coach.