DOSB boss defends German Olympic athletes after harsh criticism
The chairman of the German Olympics body DOSB has defended the German athletes after they received harsh criticism for their performance at the Milan/Cortina Winter Games, which ended on Sunday.
“It’s not a disaster as some couch athletes like to say,” Otto Fricke said, referring to the spectators watching the Games on TV.
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“But it’s not a brilliant performance either,” he told broadcaster Bayerischer Rundfunk.
Germany finished fifth in the medal table – eight gold, 10 silver and eight bronze – falling short of expectations.
Germany had 14 fourth-place finishes in the Olympics, more than any other nation.
“I personally always say that fourth is the new platinum, because it’s world class. It’s frustrating for the athletes, I think everyone knows that coming fourth was always a bit frustrating, but we as a society have to deal with it differently,” Fricke said.