Former balance beam world champion Pauline Schäfer-Betz is continuing her comeback with a new coaching team. As announced by the German Gymnastics Federation, the 28-year-old is switching from Kay Uwe Temme to Tatjana Bachmayer and Anatol Ashurkov in Chemnitz. "With a view to my comeback, I realized that I need new impulses and a different training structure in order to be able to fully focus on my goals once again," explained the 28-year-old.
Schäfer-Betz had to undergo an operation in May due to persistent hip problems. As a result, the balance beam specialist, who also won silver in 2021 after winning the world title in 2017, missed the European Championships in Leipzig. Since then, she has been working on her comeback. "I know how challenging this path will be, which is precisely why I want to take every opportunity that helps me to develop further," she said, explaining the move.
Unexpected move
The move by Schäfer-Betz comes as a surprise, as the Bachmayer/Ashurkov duo train at TuS Chemnitz-Altendorf, where they have built up a strong group around double European champion Karina Schönmaier.
The European Championship bronze medallist had left this club with the 2022 team in connection with the fall of her former coach Gabriele Frehse and joined KTV Chemnitz. With Schäfer-Betz at the helm, gymnasts from the national base had accused their former coach of harassment, among other things, at the end of 2020. Frehse had always denied the allegations, and the Chemnitz public prosecutor's office dropped all investigations.
"It is a conscious step that arose from the desire to start my path again with a new structure and fresh perspective," the top gymnast now explained.
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