The team pursuit in Salt Lake City was very unlucky for the German team. Now it will be missing from the individual distance world championships – due to a material problem.
A broken zipper cost the German speed skaters in the team pursuit their last chance to qualify for the individual track world championships. Because of the material problem with Hendrik Dombek’s racing suit, the Munich native was unable to compete with Stefan Emele and Felix Maly (both Erfurt) at the World Cup in Salt Lake City/USA.
“We tried to repair it, but the suit couldn’t be closed anymore. That meant we couldn’t run because we would have been disqualified,” said Dombek, disappointed. The accident happened in the 2002 Olympic Hall, right before the start of the B group.