DSV: "There are cases every day": More victims report allegations of abuse

Jan Hempel, ex-water jumper, triggers a chain reaction with his allegations of sexual abuse against the former trainer at the German Swimming Association.

DSV: "There are cases every day": More victims report allegations of abuse

Jan Hempel, ex-water jumper, triggers a chain reaction with his allegations of sexual abuse against the former trainer at the German Swimming Association. Many more victims come forward. Meanwhile, politicians are questioning the public funding of the DSV.

After the serious allegations of abuse by the former water jumper Jan Hempel, politicians spoke up and questioned the public funding of the German Swimming Association (DSV). "We have now seen that the time for paying lip service is finally over," said Mahmut Özdemir, Parliamentary State Secretary responsible for sport in the Federal Ministry of the Interior, of the ARD sports show.

An association that does not adhere to the requirements and conditions for funding, added SPD politician Özdemir, "which tolerates sexualised violence, doping or other interpersonal violence, does not explain it, covers it up - such associations are not allowed to receive a cent from tax funds". DSV competitive sports director Christian Hansmann had previously stated at the European Swimming Championships in Rome that possible political consequences were "of course to be feared".

According to Hansmann, other victims have also reported. The Commissioner for the Prevention of Sexualized Violence, Franka Weber, had received reports from "many injured parties and victims," ​​he said. "There are cases every day." The four-time European champion Hempel reported years of sexual abuse by a coach in an ARD documentary and accused the DSV and national water jump coach Lutz Buschkow of knowing about it and not having acted. Buschkow was then released from the association last Thursday. "Of course, the allegations are very serious," said Hansmann, "it's not going to work out overnight."

The former open water swimmer referred to the first measures taken by the DSV. "We are working on preventing this so that it doesn't happen again," said Hansmann, "we are in the process of revolutionizing trainer training and introducing the topic of sexualized violence - from the state to the federal level. There must be mandatory training for employees in the DSV. There are already some offers, we have to make it mandatory now." He also emphasized that the association is working with the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) and the athletes in Germany on this topic. Reported cases are processed together with the athletes' representatives.

Buschkow's release during the European Championships in Rome unsettled the athletes. "You could see that there was a kink in the team," said Hansmann. "Many had difficulties with the decision and the consequences. You can tell that there was a break in the team."