abuse affair
Hempel hopes to have “started the ball rolling”.
The former world-class water jumper Jan Hempel says he was sexually abused by his coach at the time for years. photo
© Stefan Hesse/dpa
Jan Hempel’s allegations of abuse against his ex-coach have not only shaken the world of water jumpers. Hempel hopes that his appearance in an ARD documentary will trigger a “wave”.
The shocking allegations of abuse should change something. That is Jan Hempel’s greatest wish. “No one can really estimate how big the wave will be, but something just has to happen,” Hempel told the German Press Agency.
“What happened to me cannot be undone. But there are still many who are affected by it today and who want to do sports today. That it never happens again: I hope I have one there got the ball rolling.” But the former world-class diver also has serious doubts.
In an ARD documentary entitled “Abused – Sexualized Violence in German Swimming,” Hempel, who came second at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996, publicly reports for the first time on allegations of sexual abuse against his former coach, Werner Langer, who has died in the meantime.
In 1997, Hempel informed the national coach at the time
From 1982 to 1996 he was repeatedly sexually abused by Langer. In 1997, Hempel said he informed the national coach at the time about the incident. He accuses the German Swimming Association (DSV) of having handled the situation incorrectly at the time.
“The DSV suggested to me that if you hang that on the big bell, our sport is in danger and then you can no longer continue your sport,” he said. “Of course I was at a level where I had goals in mind and I wanted to achieve them. I swallowed a lot.” Langer was suspended at the time, but not because of abuse, but because of an alleged Stasi past, says Hempel.
In a statement from Dresdner SC, for which Hempel was previously active, DSC President Wolfgang Söllner is quoted as saying: “After the allegations became known internally, Mr Langer was withdrawn from the then national coach and given a lifelong ban from the DSC. ” Söllner also says: “It was Jan Hempel’s express wish at the time to keep the topic out of the media.”
Acting national water jump coach released
Hempel says: “Of course I don’t know what was officially conveyed to the coaches at the time. Whether the DSV told the coaches that Jan didn’t want that to be hung on the big bell. I can’t say that. I don’t have it that way said.”
The former top athlete accuses the incumbent national coach of water jumpers Lutz Buschkow of also having knowledge of the allegations at the time. The DSV released Buschkow from his job at the European Championships in Rome on Thursday until the facts had been finally clarified. However, the association also announced that the previous inspection of the files had not resulted in any indication that Hempel’s allegations against Buschkow were correct.
Hempel is surprised by this statement: “It is said that the files have been inspected, and I ask myself: Where should something be in there if there has been silence about it for years?”
Events “always swept under the table”
The 50-year-old doubts that the events will be processed properly. “So far it has always been swept under the table,” said Hempel. “When such things became public, they were quickly hushed up. I hope that’s not the case this time. That it will trigger a wave somewhere. Hope dies last.”
Hempel’s former dubbing partner Heiko Meyer also hopes that going public will change something for the better. He also hopes that the step will also help Hempel himself. “I wish Jan could find some peace. He’s been a broken man for years,” said Meyer.