National coach continues to fire against Claudia Pechstein

Hamar (dpa) - Speed ​​skating national coach Erik Bouwman has continued his general settlement with Claudia Pechstein in the Dutch media.

"We have a snake pit with people who belong to a very negative current," said the 47-year-old Dutchman of the daily "De Telegraaf".

According to Bouwman, a group led by Pechstein "sabotages" the association's plans to connect with the top nations. Pechstein and Co. believed holy in the method by which the East German top runners had grown up. "But the developments in speed skating are so fast. There is constant renewal." If you don't participate, you will lose. "It happened in Germany. We are now a developing country."

A day before the World Cup in Hamar, Bouwman sent a fire letter to "Bild" and assumed that the 48-year-old Berliner tried "populist propaganda" to secure the path "for her own profit". The dispute has been going on since last summer, when the Dutchman said he was "not in the mood" to train the five-time Olympic champion.

It is now escalating because Pechstein's partner Matthias Große has applied for the vacant presidency in the association and has announced that he wants to do without the coach. "It would have big consequences if big ones were elected," warned Bouwman. "I feel obliged to ring the alarm bells," he added, handing out advice to "those who believe in Matthias Große's wand: think again carefully."

Große, however, has asked the German speed skating community to sanction Bouwman's behavior. The association was surprised by the comments of the national coach and initially wants to advise on a reaction.

Gerd Heinze, the former president of the German Speed ​​Skating Community, criticized Bouwman's brand letter as "outrageous". He defamed the most successful winter Olympic pioneer in Germany. "His appearance, which was harmful to the association at the beginning of the World Cup, must have consequences," wrote Heinze on Facebook. "I expect a clear position from the sports director and the current presidency," said Heinze.

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