Meyer had previously declared that he would not be renewing his expired contract as Germany's national endurance coach and would only be helping out at the upcoming World Championships in Roubaix (20-24 October). "I couldn't and didn't want to leave the boys hanging," the 36-year-old Meyer told the German Press Agency before the start of the title fights this Wednesday.
"It's time to make room for new people"
According to the BDR, Uibel's national coach contract will also not be continued in its current form beyond the end of the year, but he will remain with the association like Meyer. Discussions have already taken place. Uibel has been head coach for the short-track since 1996 and is one of the most successful coaches in the history of the federation and in German sport as a whole. According to the BDR, he has won 14 Olympic medals, including three gold medals, 83 plaques at World Championships and more than 100 at European Championships during his time in office.
"I've been national coach for over 30 years and have recently realised that I'm no longer so intensively involved. It's time to make room for new people who can provide fresh impetus," said 62-year-old Uibel in the press release.
Meyer would like to stay with the BDR
Meyer took over as national coach of the German men's endurance team in May 2011 after missing out on the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games and has gradually led them back to the world's elite. The 2018 and 2019 world titles in the Madison for Roger Kluge/Theo Reinhardt, for example, came during Meyer's tenure. The reason he gave for his departure as national coach was that the federation had hardly developed in terms of personnel despite increasingly complex tasks.
He would like to stay with the BDR, but in a different role. "I would like to go in a more technical, analytical and scientific direction again," said Meyer. It is currently unclear what will happen in the position of national coach. "We are in close consultation, but we can't name any names yet," said sports director Patrick Moster.
At the European Championships in Grenchen/Switzerland, national junior endurance coach Tim Zühlke and national U23 coach Frank Augustin were in charge of the team. Neither of them are available for the World Championships - which is why Meyer is stepping in in France despite the end of his contract. "I think we've achieved a lot. I hope that something will stick," said Meyer before his farewell performance.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:211019-99-647476/4
