The German record champion in speed skating Claudia Pechstein trained after a split with national coach Erik Bouwman since this season with the Polish national team. The 47-year-old skater does not believe in trusting cooperation with the German Speed Skating Association (DEG).
At the training camp in Heerenveen, the Netherlands, her bouwman said that he was "not in the mood" for training in the German team. "Anyone who communicates as a national coach missed his job, so I knew that you would not be happy anymore," Pechstein told the "Bild" newspaper.
Bouwman confirmed these statements to the German press agency, but would like to avoid another confrontation. "There are several reasons for my decision, but I think with their training in Poland we have now found a good solution," he said.
Pechstein experienced in Poland "a huge recognition", which she got very rarely in Germany. But the Berliner will start for Germany. Their goal is Olympia 2022, it would be their eighth participation.
One of the reasons for the dispute was probably Pechsteins decision to focus on the individual distances over 3000 and 5000 meters at the World Championships in February in Inzell and to renounce the team run.
