The German sprinter Gina Lückenkemper sharply criticized the public criticism of the German performance at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene in the US state of Oregon.

“Speaking of weak flesh on the live stream.

That was just one of the comments that you heard in part," said the EM second in a Sky interview after her 100-meter race on Saturday in the Diamond League race in Chorzow, "and to be honest, I think that's it very disrespectful and rude to the athletes.”

"I didn't think all this negativity that the athletes were facing," said Lückenkemper, "I didn't think it was okay.

Because sometimes it sounded as if the athletes hadn't bothered." If you put it in perspective where our athletes come from and what else they did and "how they have to work their ass off to compete against these full professionals To be able to compete, I think you should take your hat off to the athletes rather than scolding them,” said the 25-year-old from SCC Berlin.

She definitely has the feeling that she can “initiate something” with her statements on German sports funding.

After the World Cup, Lückenkemper explained: "If you're already good, you'll be well promoted.

But as long as you're on the way there, it's difficult.”

This was followed by a clarifying conversation with national sprint coach Ronald Stein.

This went positively.

"My national coach is one of those people who really listens to me and with whom I can also talk constructively and discuss the whole thing and discuss views," said Lückenkemper, who was one of the total in Eugene with the sprint relay in third place only two German medals in addition to the gold for long jumper Malaika Mihambo.

On Saturday Konstanze Klosterhalfen stood relaxed at the Sky interview after her 3000 meter run and was finally able to smile again.

"It was like a liberation for me," said the middle stretcher, relieved after seventh place.

Shortly thereafter, Gina Lückenkemper also presented her bright face after fourth place over 100 meters.

“I can be really satisfied with this place in a field like this.

That definitely gives self-confidence for the European Championships in Munich,” said the Berliner.

Both had big plans at the climax in the Olympic Stadium in 1972 (15th to 21st August), especially after the World Championships, which were so disappointing for German athletics.

Klosterhalfen has regained hope, the body is playing along again.

“I enjoyed the race again.

I felt strong again.

I can draw a lot of positive things from that for the European Championships,” said the Leverkusen player after her 8:42.34 minutes.

She had kept up well up to 250 meters from the finish.

However, when double Olympic champion Sifan Hassan (Netherlands/8:39.27) started her irresistible sprint, the leading group tore apart.

At the World Championships a good two weeks earlier, Klosterhalfen had been beaten well below value over 5000 meters.

After surviving the corona infection, she was only eighth in the preliminary heat and was 17 seconds short of reaching the final.

Thereafter?

A picture of misery.

Lückenkemper also had to watch as a sprinter set out to outclass the competition.

The five-time world champion and two-time Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce from Jamaica drummed down the 100 meters in the world record time of 10.66 seconds.

"She's really a grenade," said Lückenkemper, who worked her way up to fourth place after a weak start in 11.10.

"I have to be more aggressive at the start, I haven't really found the right balance yet," said the EM second, self-critically.

Javelin thrower Julian Weber, on the other hand, did not look happy.

The Olympic and World Championships fourth had to settle for second place with his 84.94 meters.

The Czech Jakub Vadlejch (86.88), who had snatched bronze from him at the World Cup, was 1.74 meters ahead of the Mainzer.

"Today there was a lack of excitement," said Weber.

The focus of the event was once again pole vault star Armand Duplantis.

13 days after his World Championship triumph from Eugene, where he had improved the world record to 6.21 meters, the 22-year-old Swede flew over 6.10 meters in his third attempt.

For Duplantis it was the tenth competition in his career - both indoors and outdoors - with a winning height of 6.10 meters and higher.