26 replies to this topic

[Goethe]

• Birgit Fischer, who has competed in Moscow 1980, is aiming to qualify for the Games this Summer. She is most successful German athlete at the Summer Games.

Not sure if she is fit enough, since she in 50 years old now. I think she just wants to come back in the spotlight of the media again.

• Hinrich Romeike, who has won two gold medals in Hong Kong won´t compete with is horse Marius at the German qualification. Marius is now 18 and too old to compete.

So what are prospects for the German team? Since the reunification is now 22 years ago, the DOSB would be happy, if Germany wins nearly the same amount of medals as in 2008. Three teams, that have qualified for the Games four years ago, have failed to qualify for this years Games. On one hand they were too weak, but the Womens Football-Team was beaten by an ASIAN team during the World Cup. But UEFA is the only association, that did not organize a special qualification tournament. So despite being the second best team in the FIFA ranking and beating France 4-2 and Sweden twice after the World Cup, they are not allowed to start in London.

I must confess, the older I get, the less important is it for me, how the German Team performs at the Olympics. There are a handful of athletes I am keeping my fingers crossed (Timo Boll, Brink/Reckermann, Mens Eight,...) but for Britta Steffen or Paul Biedermann I would feel a bit of schadenfreude, if they fail.

[munichfan]

I don't expect too much this time. Since reunification Germany won less medals every games. I'd be happy with some 35 medals or so. And Goethe, don't you think Shanghai 2011 let you feel enough "schadenfreude" for Britta?

[intoronto1125]

munichfan, on 23 March 2012 - 06:05 PM, said:

I don't expect too much this time. Since reunification Germany won less medals every games. I'd be happy with some 35 medals or so. And Goethe, don't you think Shanghai 2011 let you feel enough "schadenfreude" for Britta?

That is really surprising to here! I'd always thought of Germany has a stable sporting power. The decline could be in part to China's dominance last time out so maybe an equal effort from 2008 or higher is not out of the realm of possibility.

[munichfan]

Well, here's the number of medals won by the German team from reunificationon:
1992: 82
1996: 65
2000: 56
2004: 49
2008: 41

[intoronto1125]

munichfan, on 23 March 2012 - 06:22 PM, said:

Well, here's the number of medals won by the German team from reunificationon:
1992: 82
1996: 65
2000: 56
2004: 4s
2008: 41

Halved since 1992. Did the gvt cut funding? THe winter team always does well.

[faster]

I think Germany will be stable, or slightly improved. Maybe less golds. China and Russia will certainly drop. Italy and France should drop, Korea will be stable, the UK will improve, but I don't think it will be by much. The British over-performed in Beijing.

[intoronto1125]

faster, on 23 March 2012 - 09:14 PM, said:

I think Germany will be stable, or slightly improved. Maybe less golds. China and Russia will certainly drop. Italy and France should drop, Korea will be stable, the UK will improve, but I don't think it will be by much. The British over-performed in Beijing.

And hopefully a top 12 for Canada

[Citius Altius Fortius]

Of course I am hoping that the German team performs in London 2012 well - I attuned my ticket schedule with my favourite venues, my favourite sports and if German athletes have a chance to get into the Top Five in the event.

I got a very good spread of tickets according these criteria, but the most important things of "London 2012" for me are:

...to meet GB-members from around the world in London

...to share a flat with GB-members from Australia and the USA - we are planning to create a special GB-flat-share member T-shirt, which shall support our different teams

...to watch my first Olympic Games live (after I watched all Olympic Games since Sarajevo 1984 on TV) with its ceremonies, sport events, cultural events etc. etc.

...to share an experience with friends: Olympic Games in Europe, in the UK and in a world metropole at the same time

Edited by Citius Altius Fortius, 24 March 2012 - 01:45 PM.

[Olympian2004]

I think that the German team -- even if it will be the smallest since German reunification -- will perform equally as well as in Beijing, maybe even better. There will always be a few surprise defeats as well as surprise medals, and Germany is still strong enough in several sports to be a major power at each Summer Games.

The rowers, for example, are expected to perform much stronger than in Beijing. Besides Britta Steffen, German swimming now has another candidate for gold, Paul Biedermann. In athletics, people like Robert Harting and Betty Heidler could win the first German gold in 12 years.

So I don't share the pessimistic approaches of Goethe and Munichfan. I think that you two will be the first ones to jubilate here when Germany wins a sensational gold medal in London.

[Citius Altius Fortius]

I would like to emphasise that the smallest number of German athletes since reunification is caused mainly due the fact, that Germany didn't qualified for some team sports...