Thirteen athletes have been selected for the upcoming Paris event. - Former cleaner Kejeta now dominates marathons.
The German National Olympic Sports Federation (DOSB) has granted the initial 13 spaces for the Olympic Games in Paris (26th July to 11th August), but the main contenders are yet to emerge. This is due to the fact that the individual sports federations can only make recommendations, while DOSB has the final decision-making power.
Thomas Weikert (62), DOSB's president and head of the German delegation, expressed his enthusiasm: "The race has begun; the Olympic Games in Paris will be a sports extravaganza that Germany and the entire world can cherish."
Melat Kejeta (31), an Ethiopian-born runner who attained German citizenship in 2019, is amongst the 13 fortunate athletes. Her marathon debut in Berlin in 2019 resulted in the swiftest German debut in history at 2:23:57 hours. In January 2023, she set the second-fastest German time ever with a run in Dubai - 2:21:47. Irina Mikitenko (51) holds the record with her 2:19:19 time in Berlin 16 years back. Having fled from Ethiopia in 2013 to avoid getting implicated in a political trial against her father, she arrived in Germany via Belgium and initially worked as a cleaner before catching the attention of a coach at a refugee camp in Giessen. Since then, her life has undergone a miraculous transformation. She finished 6th in her debut Olympics in Tokyo 2021.
Surprisingly, surfers Camilla Kemp (28) and Tim Elter (20), both extremely talented in shortboard, have been passed over for Paris, as they will be heading to Tahiti for their competitions. Tahiti, 15,000 kilometers from Paris, is part of the French overseas territory of French Polynesia.
The DOSB anticipates around 400 athletes for the Paris Olympics, with a chance of exceeding the 452 athletes who participated in Rio 2016. The number of teams participating has significantly increased - in basketball, handball and field hockey, both men and women have qualified, while women's soccer and men's volleyball will be represented. Female volleyball players have yet to earn their tickets.
Olaf Tabor (53), DOSB's chief of mission and director of sports competition, remains encouraged: "I'm confident that Team D will perform impressively in Paris and believe our athletes will give their all. Winning is important, but not at any cost."
The following dozen athletes have been nominated:
Fencing: Anne Sauer (33/Foil Individual), Matyas Szabo (32/Sabre Individual)
Athletics: Laura Hottenrott (32), Melat Kejeta (31), Domenika Mayer (33), Samuel Fitwi Sibhatu (28), Amanal Petros (28), Richard Ringer (35). Substitutes: Deborah Schöneborn (30), Hendrik Pfeiffer (31/all Marathon)
Surfing: Camilla Kemp (28), Tim Elter (20/both shortboard)
Taekwondo: Lorena Brandl (26/65 kg)
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Source: symclub.org
