The German Swimming Association has reached an agreement on another personnel matter – which puts additional financial strain on the cash-strapped association: Ex-sports director Thomas Kurschilgen will receive a high six-figure sum.
As in the case of ex-diver Jan Hempel, the German Swimming Association (DSV) also ended the dispute with its former sports director Thomas Kurschilgen with a large monetary payment. The Kassel regional court confirmed to the Sportschau on Friday (November 10th, 2023) that both parties had agreed on a settlement. There, Kurschilgen took action against the immediate termination imposed by the DSV in March 2021. The second day of the trial scheduled for November 21st was canceled.
The association had accused the top official of, among other things, failings in dealing with the allegations of abuse against national coach Stefan Lurz, who was later convicted. Kurschilgen has always denied the allegations. During the first day of the trial, which took place in January 2022, he rejected a settlement suggested by the judge. He declined to comment on the matter on Friday. The DSV also made no comment.
High six-figure sum for Kurschilgen
The association had agreed on a payment totaling 600,000 euros with Hempel, who had threatened to sue for organizational negligence after years of abuse by his trainer. According to ARD information, Kurschilgen will receive a similar amount, consisting of lost salary, compensation and severance pay.
Spicy: Vice President Wolfgang Rupieper, who currently leads the DSV in a dual leadership role with Kai Morgenroth, was significantly involved in the events that led to Kurschilgen’s dismissal without notice. Rupieper and his colleagues on the board were also accused within the DSV of using the Lurz case to get rid of the powerful and reform-minded sports director Kurschilgen and his lavish salary.
High financial burden before the next Buschkow appointment
Now, as in the Hempel case, the association, which is already under financial pressure, will avoid a potentially lengthy court dispute, but will have to dig deep into its pockets again. However, the DSV had calculated with this sum, and now there is more planning security before the continuation of the last pending court case in high-profile personnel matters: The second day of the trial in the legal dispute with Lutz Buschkow is scheduled for February 2024 at the Halle/Salle labor court.
The long-standing top official is also suing because the DSV terminated him without notice in October 2022. The association was then following the ARD documentary “Abused” about the Hempel case and other cases of sexual violence in German swimming took action against Buschkow. According to the accusation by the DSV and Hempel, he is said to have known early on about the sexual assaults against the former world-class diver without taking appropriate measures. Buschkow denies this and stated that he only found out about Hempel’s ordeal when the ARD film was released.
The DSV is also financed through tax revenue; it currently receives more than five million euros per year from the Federal Ministry of the Interior’s funding. According to ARD information, the possibility of putting a mortgage on the association’s headquarters in Kassel was even discussed internally. Despite the agreements with Kurschilgen and Hempel, it is questionable whether the representatives of German swimming will be able to focus primarily on sporting events such as the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris at the DSV general meeting on December 9th.