Hempel hopes to have “set the ball rolling”.

Created: 08/19/2022, 15:15

Dresden's Jan Hempel sits on the board of the three-meter tower during a break in training.

© Stefan Hesse/dpa/archive image

Former world-class water jumper Jan Hempel hopes to initiate changes with his published allegations of abuse against his ex-coach.

"No one can really estimate how big the wave will be, but something just has to happen," Hempel told the German Press Agency on Friday.

“What happened to me cannot be undone.

Rome - But there are still many who are affected by it today and who want to do sports today.

That it never happens again: I hope I've gotten the ball rolling."

However, Hempel also has doubts that the events will be properly processed.

"So far it has always been swept under the table," said the 50-year-old.

"When such things came to the public, they were quickly hushed up.

I hope that's not the case this time.

That it will start a wave somewhere.

Hope dies last.”

In an ARD documentary entitled "Abused - Sexualized Violence in German Swimming", Hempel, who came second at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996, reported publicly for the first time in moving words on allegations of sexual abuse against his former coach Werner Langer, who has died in the meantime.

From 1982 to 1996 he was repeatedly sexually abused by Langer.

In 1997, Hempel said he informed the national coach at the time about the incident.

He accuses the German Swimming Association of having handled the situation incorrectly at the time.

"The DSV suggested to me that if you hang that on the big bell, our sport is in danger and then you can no longer continue your sport," he said.

Hempel emphasised: "Today's management has nothing to do with what was then.

But unfortunately they are in a position where they now represent the DSV and have to live with the consequences.” dpa