Rowing national coach Brigitte Bielig considers the harsh criticism of single driver Oliver Zeidler on the negative performance development of the DRV fleet to be excessive.
After the 2019 World Champion described the results of the national team this year as a “debacle” shortly before the start of the European Championships in Munich (August 11th to 14th), she took a position. “He’s right in parts, but I think the accusation of unprofessionalism in particular is far too harsh. With his type of criticism, he doesn’t make life easier for us as an association,” said Bielig of the “Berliner Morgenpost”.
EM co-favorite Zeidler had called for comprehensive changes in the association’s work, referring to the dwindling medal yield at major events in recent years and the poor season balance sheet at the World Cups in Poznań and Lucerne. “But we don’t have anyone in the German Rowing Association who has this idea about competitive sport. It’s time that responsibility was taken on now,” he said.
The fact that the 26-year-old even called for the dismissal of DRV sports director Mario Woldt in his criticism caused unrest shortly before the title fights. Bielig sees a need for discussion: “We will clarify these things internally. Basically, many who judge from the outside never see the whole picture that leads to decisions. As in this case, it’s about private things that are too must be respected.”
Bielig referred to Zeidler’s special rights to be able to train individually in Munich instead of at the federal base of the scullers in Hamburg/Ratzeburg. “Such special regulations create problems in an overall system, but he gets them because we consider him to be a real talent with a high level of physical ability. I really appreciate his achievements, but he still has a few things to learn, so sometimes I would like a little more restraint on his part.”