The former coach of speed skater Claudia Pechstein, Joachim Franke, is dead. This was confirmed by the President of the German Speed Skating and Short Track Association (DESG), Matthias Große, to the German Press Agency on Wednesday, citing family circles. Franke died at the age of 83 in a nursing home in Bernau near Berlin. The "Bild" newspaper had previously reported.
Franke began his sporting career as an ice hockey player with Dynamo Weißwasser. He won European Championship bronze with the GDR team in 1966. In 1973, the Saxon began his career as a speed skating coach and later trained Pechstein, among others.
Franke coached the Berliner for a total of 16 years. The now 52-year-old won five Olympic victories and six world championship titles under Franke.
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