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Lutz Buschkow
Photo: Daniel Naupold/ dpa
After serious allegations of dealing with sexual abuse, water jump national coach Lutz Buschkow was released from his job by the German Swimming Association (DSV) on the sidelines of the European Championships in Rome with immediate effect.
When the Olympic bronze medalists Tina Punzel and Lena Hentschel won the title in synchronized jumping from the three-meter board, the 64-year-old was still sitting at the edge of the pool, but not in the subsequent one-meter men's final.
»The process of clarification is not yet complete.
Nevertheless, due to its high moral standards, the DSV board decided to release Mr. Buschkow from his position as national diving coach in the DSV with immediate effect until the facts have been finally clarified, "said the DSV on Thursday evening.
The association was "deeply dismayed by the description of the terrible experiences of the victims of sexualised and sexual violence".
Buschkow has worked for DSV since 1991
The four-time European water jump champion Jan Hempel (50), Olympic silver medalist in 1996, had heavily burdened a long-time coach in the ARD documentary "Abused - Sexualized Violence in German Swimming" and accused the association of inaction.
On August 11, the DSV board “first became aware of Hempel’s allegations against his then coach”, only on Thursday “did the DSV board then learn through the report for the first time that Mr Buschkow was accused of allegedly knowing this and not correspondingly to have acted, "said the DSV.
“I was abused by my trainer.
He never really missed a moment to let his wishes run free,” said Hempel.
For 14 years, from Hempel's eleventh year onwards, a trainer occasionally abused him on a daily basis, including during the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, immediately before a competition.
According to Hempel, who claims to have informed the top management of the association in 1997, the DSV has never dealt with the allegations in substance.
"Everyone has been silent until today," said Hempel.
The DSV announced that the allegations would be fully dealt with: "On behalf of the entire association, we would like to apologize to the victims for having to suffer such traumatic experiences."
Buschkow has worked for DSV since 1991 and has been head coach of the water jumpers since 2002.
From 2008 to 2016 he also worked as a competitive sports director.
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