Turn scandal: Milbradt demands change in front of the European Championship in Leipzig!

Turn scandal: Milbradt demands change in front of the European Championship in Leipzig!

Leipzig, Deutschland - Jens Milbradt, who has been the head coach of the German gymnasts since November 2024, comments on the challenges that the German Turner Association (DTB) faces. Especially the allegations and grievances around gymnastics, which arose primarily in the context of the abuse scandal, burden the preparations and the current squad. In a conversation, Milbradt reports on his own experiences. During his active career, he “suspected” that doping played a role in gymnastics and realizes that it was common at that time to undergo tests before ran to capitalist. The direct question of whether he had actually come into contact with doping, he reacts evasively and instead focuses on the urgent topics of the future of German men's gymnastics.

The current situation of the German gymnastics elite is tense. Numerous prominent gymnasts are missing in the DTB's contingent for the 2025 home European Championship, which further exacerbates. Injuries and operations, such as Elisabeth Seitz (shoulder injury), Pauline Schäfer-Betz (hip op) and Emma Malewski (injury break), throw a shadow on the team. The hope of 17-year-old Helen Kevric, who performed well at the 2024 Olympics, was uncertain due to the abuse scandal due to training deficit. Under the circumstances, head coach Jens Milbradt strives for the men in the team competition for men and also hopes for participation in final competitions.

abuse scandal and its consequences

The abuse scandal in the DTB is becoming increasingly noticeable and overshadow not only the home European Championship, but also the entire organization of German gymnastics. The athlete Tabea Alt and other affected gymnasts have denounced the grievances in gymnastics since the end of 2024. Former gymnasts report on physical and mental abuse, like the 13-year-old Zoé Meißner, who was "broken". The DTB is now faced with an open letter of 28 former top athletes who are calling for a withdrawal of the mandate to the Rettaier law firm, which has been commissioned to investigate grievances for years.

The authors of the open letter have considerable doubts about the independence of the investigation and require a neutral clarification of the present allegations. DTB President Alfons Hölzl has made it clear that he cannot rule out further abuse cases and emphasizes how important it is to tackle the problems mentioned. The sports director Thomas Gutekunst said that the emotions in the DTB were not overcome and the topic should be addressed during the European Championship in Leipzig.

prepared for the future?

While the DTB is intensively devoted to the revision of the allegations, the question remains how athletes can be protected in the future. Head coach Gerben Wiersma was optimistic about the 17-year-old Kevric, while the performance of the women's team is required in all-round and in the device finals in order to achieve the sporting goals. In the middle of the turbulence, the DTB looks forward to the current challenges with mixed feelings. The home European Championship is part of the German International Gymnastics Festival, which will attract many visitors from May 28th to June 1st and thus offers a platform to discuss the events and the future of German gymnastics.

For many, it remains to be seen to what extent the DTB learns from these challenges and what steps are taken in the clarification and in the protection of the athletes. One thing is certain: the topic will not only shape the home European Championship, but also strongly influence the future of German gymnastics.