Olympic athlete sent home following numerous complaints about not being allowed to compete with her boyfriend
An Olympian has been sent home after she went public with her disappointment that she was not allowed to compete in a relay event with her boyfriend.
Yes, another athlete at the 2024 Paris Olympics has been sent packing.
And like Brazilian swimmer Ana Carolina Vieira, Germany's Luna Bulmahn was booted from her team due to a row involving her partner.
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It all arose when a shock decision was made by the DLV (Germany’s Athletics Association), after they dropped Bulmahn, their second fastest female 400-meter athlete, from the 4x400m mixed relay team.
Her boyfriend Jean Paul Bredau was informed he would be competing in the race without her, and the pair fumed at the decision to replace Bulmahn with a marginally slower athlete over the same distance, Alica Schmidt.
Angered at the ruthless decision to axe her from the race, she took to Instagram to post: "Yes, I am the second fastest 400-meter athlete on paper.
"No, I was not nominated for the mixed relay."
Her boyfriend Bredau was in her corner, and took to social media after the race concluded - in which the German's mixed team finished seventh in their round one race.
He wrote: "Not everything went perfectly beforehand. That’s why I didn’t have the energy.
"A few decisions were made that not everyone approved. The DLV made it very clear: the fastest four should run. A different decision was made."
Now, Bulmahn's outburst has landed her in a world of trouble from the higher-ups.
As punishment, she has been dropped from the women’s 4x400-meter relay - an incredibly harsh decision to impose on an athlete who would have spent three years training for the competition.
Qualifying their call to axe Bulmahn, the DLV suggested that Bulmahn wasn't a team player for the way that she acted.
Its statement read: "The line-up was made with a view to a successful mixed relay team. The decision was made unanimously by the DLV coaching team and was explained to the athletes.
"Jean Paul Bredau has apologised and will compete in the individual 400m race. Luna Bulmahn will not be used in the relay in Paris.
"Relays are a team sport. The athletes and coaches form this team. Success depends on good teamwork and mutual trust among all."
While it is a harsh response, you do have to lend a thought to Schmidt, the athlete caught up in all of this.
She'd just found out she'd be competing on the greatest stage of all, but there was no cheering for her in her own camp it seemed.
Speaking about it, Schmidt said: "There were disagreements beforehand. I have to say, we are a team.
"We should stick together. We should trust what the coaches decide and be mentally ready accordingly.
"Everyone prepares for this for three years. And if you stand here and don’t fully support the relay team – I find that difficult."
Topics: Olympics, Germany, Instagram, Social Media
Joe Yates