Pechstein: “It was everything for me”
Legendary trainer Joachim Franke is dead
March 20, 2024, 1:49 p.m
Among other things, he shaped Claudia Pechstein into a world-class speed skater. Now Joachim Franke has died in a nursing home at the age of 83. Pechstein says goodbye to her successful coach with emotional words of thanks.
The long-time successful speed skating coach Joachim Franke is dead. This was confirmed by the German Speed Skating and Short Track Association (DESG). According to information from the “Bild” newspaper, the former coach of five-time Olympic champion Claudia Pechstein died at the age of 83 in a nursing home in Bernau near Berlin.
Franke shaped Pechstein into a world-class runner over 16 years as a coach. Under him, the Berliner won her five Olympic gold medals and became Germany’s most successful winter Olympian. “He was everything to me. He shaped me and made me a world star. I owe him everything. Goodbye, coach. May heaven have a nice place in store for you. RIP,” Pechstein is quoted as saying in a DESG statement .
Previously, Uwe-Jens Mey (1988 and 1992), André Hoffmann (1988) and Olaf Zinke (1992) had also won gold at the Olympics under Franke. “The DESG family is in deep mourning and bows to the life’s work of an extraordinary trainer. Our thoughts are with his family and wish them a lot of strength in these difficult hours,” said DESG President and Pechstein’s partner Matthias Große.
In total, he led his protégés to nine Olympic victories and 23 world championship titles. Before his career as a speed skating coach, Franke was an ice hockey player for Dynamo Weißwasser. He won bronze at the European Championships in 1966 with the GDR team. He was awarded the Federal Cross of Merit in 2002 for his achievements in promoting young athletes. The long-time successful trainer retired in 2007.