After the historic success, feelings broke out of Aline Rotter-Focken.

With tears of joy, the former world champion, covered with bruises all over her body and completely exhausted, dragged herself from the wrestling mat - on which she could achieve a great triumph on Monday.

The Krefeld native will fight for Olympic gold in her last international appearance in Tokyo.

"I believe that I can do it," said Rotter-Focken in her first reaction after she gave the German Wrestling Federation (DRB) an unprecedented success on Sunday.

With her entry into the final, Rotter-Focken has secured the first Olympic medal from a German female wrestler.

The 30-year-old is battling five-time world champion Adeline Gray from the USA for the top spot on the podium.

"There is more in it"

“I have a very good feeling. Aline can do it. She has always been world class. But in the past few years it has once again developed significantly, "said DRB sports director Jannis Zamanduridis to the SID:" So far, she has wrestled so well, consistently and cleverly - that was a gigantic achievement so far. "Rotter-Focken won in the semifinals of the weight class up to 76 kilograms after a big fight with 3: 1 against the favored Japanese vice world champion Hiroe Minagawa. Previously, the German had prevailed against Wassilissa Marsaljuk (Belarus) and Zhou Qian (China).

“She did three great performances.

You have to get these opponents out of the way first.

And to beat a Japanese woman in Japan - that says it all, "said DRB President Manfred Werner, who had given one or two medals for his team as a goal, to the SID:" She is such an exemplary athlete.

That is the reward for their uncanny dedication and hard work.

And there is more to it. "

Men dropped out prematurely

Rotter-Focken has been pulling the coal for the DRB out of the fire for years.

In addition to World Cup gold in 2014, she won World Cup silver in 2017 and World Cup bronze in 2015 and 2019.

In the title fights two years ago, she was defeated by her Tokyo final opponent Gray.

In the preparation for the Olympics, Rotter-Focken's husband Jan Rotter played a major role in the success.

The former top German wrestler trained continuously with his wife, who was able to at least partially avoid the difficulties of other athletes during the corona pandemic.

In addition, according to Zamanduridis, she has improved again, especially athletically: "For her, the postponement of the Olympics by one year was almost an advantage."

In the men's race, the German starters retired early on Sunday in the Greco-Roman style.

Etienne Kinsinger (Köllerbach) lost to the Chinese Walihan Sailike in the class up to 60 kilograms in the round of 16.

For Eduard Popp (Heilbronn), the quarter-finals of the category up to 130 kilograms against the Turkish world champion Riza Kayaalp were the final destination.