Tuesday, July 27, 2021
But Apetz is making history
Boxer fails in German Olympic debut
Nadine Apetz is very confident not only to be the first German to box at the Olympics, but also to fight for success. But the Tokyo adventure ends with the first fight. What remains, however, is that it made a historic debut.
Nadine Apetz congratulated her opponent fairly, distributed kisses in the empty area of the Kokugikan Arena and climbed out of the ring. Disappointed, but also proud. As the first German Olympic boxer, the Cologne woman had written a little piece of sports history in Tokyo – even if the premiere was shorter than hoped. “It’s not a forest-and-meadow club here, but the Olympics,” said the 35-year-old, slightly bent on the ARD: “That was a close thing, unfortunately it wasn’t enough.” Apetz lost her opening duel in welterweight (up to 69 kilograms) against Indian Lovlina Borgohain with 2: 3 on points.
Apetz, who was pointed out by her trainer about the slight deficit during the ring break, got everything out of herself in the third and final lap – but it wasn’t enough. “You would have needed one or the other clear hit to turn the fight around,” said sports director Michael Müller from the German Boxing Association (DBV).
“It annoys me and also makes me very sad,” said Apetz, “I wanted to bring home the first Olympic medal for Germany in women’s boxing.” No German boxer took part in the women’s premiere in London in 2012 and four years later in Rio. Apetz was the first in Tokyo, which makes her “very proud”, emphasized the two-time third place in the World Cup: “I don’t regret a single day in the last five years that I’ve added again.”
Actually, the late starter, who had only started boxing at the age of 21 in her studies (biology and neuroscience), wanted to end her career after she missed the Rio ticket. But for Tokyo, their parade weight class up to 69 kilograms was added to the program – Apetz was fire and flame again.
The medal dream did not come true, but no one can take away her Olympic experience. She wanted to “still enjoy” her last days in Tokyo, said Apetz, “then it goes home, and then somehow it goes on.” Namely with her doctoral thesis (title: “The deep brain stimulation in Parkinson’s in old age”), which she had last hired for the Olympics.
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