Nadine Seidenglanz is leaving the German Speed Skating and Short Track Association (DESG) to become technical director for elite sport at the Dutch federation KNSB on Dec. 1. The contract runs through the 2030 Winter Olympics, KNSB said. Her remit will include elite sport, talent development and competition programmes for speed skaters.
The 42-year-old former speed skater joined DESG in 2020 and led the German delegation at the 2022 and 2026 Winter Games. Her husband, former coach Alexis Contin, left the German federation for France several months ago. Multiple Olympic champion Claudia Pechstein has been his successor as national coach since August.
Seidenglanz’s departure comes after repeated reports of internal disputes at DESG under president Matthias Große. During the February Winter Olympics in Italy, athlete Fridtjof Petzold spoke publicly about structural problems and inadequate support. DESG leaders, including Große and Seidenglanz, rejected the accusations and imposed a provisional competition ban on Petzold.
Germany’s speed skaters again finished the Games without an Olympic medal, extending the federation’s run to four consecutive Winter Olympics. The report is from dpa. Image: Tagesspiegel.