She herself celebrated two Olympic victories for the Federal Republic of Germany, but now former high jumper Ulrike Nasse-Meyfarth is heavily criticizing the way the successes of her fellow athletes from the GDR are treated. "I find it unspeakable how little respect East German Olympic champions, world champions and otherwise successful athletes were and are shown by West Germans. The culture of remembrance in this country, which focuses on sport in West Germany, makes me angry," said Nasse-Meyfarth in an interview with "Welt am Sonntag".
Support system should have been adopted
Nasse-Meyfarth criticized the "ignorance and arrogance of the West German sports scene" - this is also one of the reasons why sporting successes in Germany are increasingly failing to materialize. "It was also short-sighted and arrogant of the West not to have adopted the talent assessment, selection and promotion system practiced in the GDR in the course of reunification. It was the basis for success, not doping. If sport in reunified Germany had been based on this system, it would not be in the desolate state it has been in for years."
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