Claudia Pechstein hopes to win silverware at the 2018 Winter Olympics

Record ID: 102025

  • Title: Claudia Pechstein hopes to win silverware at the 2018 Winter Olympics
  • Date: 25th May 2016
  • Summary: MUNICH, GERMANY (FILE - SEPTEMBER 25, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PECHSTEIN AT MUNICH COURT
  • Embargoed: 9th June 2016 15:53
  • Keywords: Speed Skating Claudia Pechstein doping
  • Location: BERLIN AND MUNICH, GERMANY
  • City: BERLIN AND MUNICH, GERMANY
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: Speed Skating,Sport
  • Reuters ID: LVA0024JB2PFJ
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:German Olympic speed skating champion Claudia Pechstein surprised many on Wednesday (May 25) when she presented her new team to help her challenge for medals at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
    Five-times Olympic champion Pechstein, who will turn 46 during the 2018 Olympics, was banned by the International Skating Union (ISU) for two years in 2009 over irregular blood results, although the German never failed a drugs test.
    "This is the surprise as probably many thought that Pechstein would announce her retirement. I have been asked what happens. Of course I have often been in situations during February 7, 2009 until today where I considered to end my career," she told reporters in Berlin.
    "Team Pechstein", under the guidance of US-trainer Peter Mueller, will see Pechstein training alongside speed skaters Junya Miwa of Japan, Hungarian Sandor Dekany and Norwegian Aleksander Waagenes and will be financed by private sponsors.
    "I am personally very happy that these three men have decided to compete in my team and under the lead of Peter (Mueller) and myself together and try to qualify. Until now we have been training well, we haven't been watched a lot, and we have good fun in the team," she added.
    Pechstein said she was eyeing the podium in Pyeongchang after achieving fourth and fifth place finishes at the 2014 Sochi Olympics.
    "I have to change something in order to improve myself further and have a chance to win a medal at the Olympics 2018 and on they way there to reach a place on the podium. I don't want to be on the eighth or ninth position anymore, I would rather get closer to the podium. There is still room for one or other medal in my closet," she said.
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