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The former water jumper Jan Hempel
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IMAGO/Political Moments
Former water jumper Jan Hempel initially only blamed himself for his botched jump in the 1992 Olympic final.
The 51-year-old was said to have been sexually abused by his coach in a toilet before the decision in high diving in Barcelona.
"No one else could help me at that moment," said Hempel on Tuesday evening on the ARD program "Maischberger": "I couldn't tell anyone that a completely different backpack was hanging on the back."
Hempel recently made the allegations against coach Werner Langer, who died in 2001, for the first time in an ARD documentary entitled "Abused - Sexualized Violence in German Swimming".
"He didn't miss a moment"
Hempel says he was sexually abused for 14 years.
"He never missed a moment in order not to give free rein to his wishes and needs," Hempel reported.
Langer had built up more and more pressure, Hempel told »Maischberger«.
"You put up with it" because you had the sporting goal in mind.
Langer, in turn, tried to downplay and normalize his actions.
Regarding the sexual abuse described by Hempel before the Olympic decision 30 years ago, the ex-athlete said oppressively openly and honestly: "You have the mental pressure that it's the final, then that's what happens.
You just want to be left in peace.« He had missed a medal in Barcelona back then.
aha/dpa
