Winter sports surprise in Chiemgau: record holder ends career at 27 and begins carpentry apprenticeship

Created: 07/01/2022 05:48

By: Andreas Knobloch

Joel Dufter is retiring and now has more time for hobbies.

© Screenshot Instagram Joel Dufter

That comes as a surprise, but one of the best German speed skaters ended his career at the age of 27 - and expressed severe criticism.

Inzell - In football, Rudi Völler once said about Marcell Jansen, who ended his career at the age of 29, that that's why he "never loved football".

Joel Dufter, one of the best German speed skaters, has now put an end to his career - and that at the age of 27. Has he never loved speed skating?

Like Jansen, he had his reasons.

He left the professional sports stage and chose harsh words against the association.

"Hopefully things will change," said the winter sports enthusiast.

A good five months after the Olympic Games in Beijing, Dufter is no longer a speed skater.

He commented on the homepage of his home club DEC Inzell.

"I did competitive sport for ten years, especially with the association in Germany it was and is very difficult, but recently I've lacked the motivation to do so.

It was easy for me to say goodbye," said Dufter, but also said: "There were good and bad times, but I don't want to complain.

Saw the world and competed in two Olympic Games.”

Joel Dufter: Criticism of the association in clear words

The Inzeller, who improved the German record over 500 meters to 34.32 seconds last season, was particularly critical of the separation from his coach Danny Leger.

His contract, which expired at the end of 2020, had not been extended by the German Speed ​​Skating and Short Track Association (DESG).

He then moved to the Norwegian team with former Canadian world-class sprinter Jeremy Wotherspoon.

At the Olympic Games in Beijing, after a previous corona infection and delayed arrival, in both 500 meters and 1000 meters, Dufter did not get past 26th place.

Joel Dufter becomes a carpenter and plays amateur hockey: "Been in training a few times"

In the meantime, the handicraft enthusiast has started an apprenticeship as a carpenter and wants to play ice hockey at amateur level.

"I was in training a few times in the spring, I'm fast on the skates, it still takes time with the puck and understanding the game," admits the native of Traunstein on the homepage.

He made it dependent on developments in the DESG whether he might return to the ice oval as a trainer.

"I think so, in a few years.

Hopefully things will change in the association, speed skating in Germany is currently not on the right track," he said.

The resignation of biathlete Erik Lesser, who found clear words, was just as sensational.