In the 1996 Olympic Games, Team Germany had plenty to celebrate, taking home an Olympic title and an impressive four bronze medals in judo alone. The first came from Richard TRAUTMANN in the -60kg category, Udo QUELLMALZ stole the show with a gold medal in the -65kg weight category, Marko SPITTKA secured bronze at -86kg and then in the heavyweight categories; +95kg and +72kg, Frank MÖLLER and Johanna HAGN added to the collection.
Following the Olympic Games in Atlanta, the strength of the German team transferred from the men to the women, in 2004 celebrating Yvonne SNIR-BÖNISCH at -57kg, two bronze medals from Julia MATIJASS (-48kg) and Annett BÖHM (-70kg), though Michael JURACK took third place on the -100kg podium. Ole BISCHOF was next to step up for Germany, taking the only medal at the 2008 Olympics, the -81kg title to be exact, even in 2012, Bischof took himself to the final once more but was forced to settle for silver, and days later, Dimitri PETERS landed the -100kg bronze, and then Andreas TÖLZER, the heavyweight bronze.
Since 2012, the men were awaiting another medal but missed the mark in 2016 in Rio, then glory from Eduard TRIPPEL gave them hope, a silver in the -90kg in Tokyo. Along with medals from the women, the team gave their all to earn the bronze in the first ever Olympic Mixed Team event. However more recently in Paris, they missed out once again, and only one medal was taken by Miriam BUTKEREIT in the -70kg category. With this, a lot of focus has been put on the development of the men’s team, and now all eyes are on Germany with the return of both1996 Olympic Champion, Udo Quellmalz and bronze medallist, Marko Spittka.
Both have continued in judo as successful coaches, most recently Quallmalz in Belgium, and Spittka taking Diyora KELDIYOROVA (UZB) to one of the most stunning Olympic gold medals of the Paris Games. Despite having achieved this tremendous success, plans were already made to return home to Germany with his family and start a new challenge with his home team. Pointing to the German coat of arms on his judogi, Spittka was clearly proud and smiled,
It’s the right colours. Wow, what a feeling. It’s been such a long story, after the success in Paris, it wasn’t so easy to come back, after creating a good system in Uzbekistan, but now I know it was the right time for this challenge. It was important for my family, and now I’m back in Germany I can feel that it was the right time and that they also need my help. Together with Udo… I think it was a good surprise for a lot of people. We are changing the system a little bit and now we need some time with the men’s team, both the next generation and the older ones, it needs time but I’m sure some result is coming.
Although Spittka was having success elsewhere for many years and could celebrate the hard work of his athletes, it was not easy to see Germany not achieve the success he so desperately wanted for them.
It was so so hard for me, before Uzbekistan I was working in Germany for one year and if I saw them lose, it was hurting me inside. Of course we have other German coaches now outside of the country like Richard (Trautmann) in Azerbaijan, another in Australia, Daniel (Gürschner) in Norway, but we cannot bring everyone back, it just doesn’t work like that. For international coaches I know it can be difficult, you don’t have the same mindset, languages, mentality, all of this has an impact. I don’t think the German mentality is so special but 20 years ago I can say it was much harder, now we are bringing a new energy and our expertise. So let’s see how it goes, a new time and new rules!
I was part of the discussion about the rules with the IJF, the process was hard but I think the results are good and it will be a good step for judo.
The future is of course exciting to discuss, but we are still reeling from the turnout of the Paris Olympic Games, and in the -52kg category, Keldiyorova gave a lifetime best performance to become Olympic Champion, dethroning ABE Uta (JPN), stunning both her and judo spectators around the world in the earlier rounds.
Honestly, I can say that it was one of the greatest days of my life. In the build up there was a great discussion, would we talk about the draw or not, there were some big challenges ahead and I made the decision that everyone would stay quiet and she would know nothing. Even the day before, sometimes we watch some videos but not this time. In the warm up I went to her, same procedure as usual, and she said “I know I read it” but it was a simple discussion, we had prepared and she was calm. We had the goal to win the gold, no matter who we fought first or last. Yes everyone says these same words, but she did it.
It was nothing short of a star-studded line up for Keldiyorova that day, but to call yourself the best, you must beat the best and she certainly succeeded on the second day of the Paris Olympic Games.
In the early rounds, she had some lucky moments but this is judo. The technique against Abe, we trained for over half a year on this, exactly for that moment and she scored the ippon. Afterwards she told me that something I said to her really calmed her, I told her that no matter whether she won or lost, our relationship would remain the same, and with that she said her mind was quiet.
For me, the contest against Germany was hard and tactical, I wouldn’t say it was nice but in the end, she won, she’d never beaten Amandine BUCHARD before, again she was in the right moment, these ‘lucky’ moments make up the Olympic Games. In the final though, I was sure that she would win.
In the final, she took on the Tokyo Olympic Champion of the -48kg category, Distria KRASNIQI (KOS).
I could feel it. You know before you go out to fight you stand in the tunnel, and I could see it, they were not 100% and from this I knew we would win. It’s hard to explain but we go out in that position so many times that you start to recognise these intricacies, you see how the coaches and athletes are, and maybe it isn’t good to assume but on this day I felt it, it was clear to me she had a big chance to win.
It is totally different now, she has a big project helping women and children who have domestic issues. She is opening a dojo only for women, she has many contracts but this is not the same, she is building a totally different life. In the beginning I helped her, not with business, only with support. When she first stepped down from the tatami, yes it was the usual talk but then I told her, ‘now watch your life change completely’.
Keldiyorova and Spittka made history, claiming a place in books with the first Olympic title for Uzbekistan.
She knows she can always come to me and I explained with this success she was find herself with many friends, and it was true, two or three months later she contacted me for help, it was too much. Now she is an absolute superstar, like a soccer player in Europe, I hope she is enjoying all of her moments but now we will see how she works. Yes she is without me but she is strong enough to find solutions, she is in Mittersill but I don’t know for sure what her plans will be after.
For her, it wasn’t so easy after winning the big title, and many are the same, it is a big come down. My phone will be open to her, her whole life, Uzbekistan and Germany are in the same hotel, and we have spent time together, for me this in itself is a huge change for their women. I wish them the best from my heart.
Now it’s a new challenge for the Olympic medallist and coach, who explained they won’t be heading straight to the Grand Slams but will work their way to the top. Best of luck Team Germany!
Author: Thea Cowen