Age is a touchy subject in German gymnastics. In the early nineties the national governing body Deutscher Turnerbund (DTB) decided to promote women's gymnastics by increasing the age limit for its own competitors to 16 for national and international competitions. As a consequence US star Shannon Miller's invitation to the 1992 DTB was revoked - she was only 15 at the time of the competition. The FIG itself would later follow suit and raise the age limit to 16, a decision the DTB considers one its great historical achievements on the international scene. In 1998, in a much-publicised blunder, DTB officials let four 15-year-old German gymnasts compete in the DTB Cup, Germany's major annual international. Though the age scandal erupted at the 1998 edition of the competition, there had been other 15-year-olds in the meet. Somehow, the performances by Russians Svetlana Khorkina and Yelena Grosheva in 1994 and Anna Kovalyova in 1997 had gone unnoticed by the meet organisers....

This year's national championships, held September 28-30 in Dessau, saw another new age rage. Only, this time on the men's side. And the were not too young, but too old. At least in the eyes of the federation. Veterans Marius Toba and Sergei Kharkov were left out of the German line-up for Ghent despite strong performances at the championships. Both Toba and Kharkov had competed at the 1988 Seoul Olympics - for Romania and the USSR, respectively. Following a tenth place performance at last year's Olympics, DTB decided it was time for new blood on the team. After years of relying on the talent of imported stars like Kharkov, Toba and 1992 CIS Olympian Valeri Belenki, a new generation of hungry youngsters was supposed to lead the German men back to the top. Coaches and officials, above all the newly appointed DTB vice-president Eduard Friedrich, called for a radical and, if necessary painful, new start.

While few would argue the necessity of shaking up a team that has often been criticised as a pension plan for former international stars, reality posed problems in Dessau. 31-year-old Kharkov placed second in the all-around and won parallel bars and a silver on high bar whereas Toba, now 33, redeemed himself in the finals after a seventh place finish in the AA, winning rings and placing second on vault. Moreover, Kharkov and Toba mustered 10 SV on high bar and rings, respectively. Nonetheless, Kharkov and Toba were informed by head coach Rainer Hanschke that they would not be going to Ghent. Not surprisingly, they openly voiced their disappointment over what they felt to be unfair treatment. Kharkov is apparently even considering legal action against DTB.

1997 world pommel horse champion Valeri Belenki, however, will at 32 be part of the German team. "He brings stability to the team, albeit not on a very high level," Hanschke told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. Cynics claim that the young hungry gymnasts may have bitten off more than they can chew whilst supporters of the new regime maintain the youngsters' main problem is lack of competitive experience and international exposure, both as a result of the long-time dominance of the veterans. Unfazed by the drama Thomas Andergassen from Stuttgart became the 2001 German national champion. And he is only 19.

It was perhaps the ultimate irony of the situation that the women's team feted the return of 25-year-old Gabi Weller to the world stage. Weller was a 1992 Olympian and represented Germany at the 1991, 1992 and 1993 World Championships. She also competed NCAA for the University of Townson. In Dessau, she earned her spot on the team with an all-around bronze, and also took three medals in the finals. (She withdrew from the floor final just before it started). Her bars, highlighted by a Shushunova, were particularly impressive and should serve the team well. Also on the comeback trail after a long break because of injury, 18-year-old Berlin native Katja Abel tied stalwart Birgit Schweigert for the all-around gold and won vault and bars outright. Schweigert, who had to overcome the shock of a car crash this summer, won beam. Her Cologne team-mate Lisa Brüggemann, who had her appendix out just three weeks before the competition, won floor.

Dagmar Fehrenschild attended the competition as a spectator. Due to her ongoing back problems, the 17-year-old is currently not allowed to train and will miss Ghent. "It's not always easy for me watching the others and not being able to do anything myself", she said, "well, at least, I set a new record on the trampoline in my gym - 41 back somersaults in a row!". Fehrenschild had competed bars and beam in Germany's club championships, the Bundesliga, this summer after a first long break before being sidelined again.

Results

All Around

German Team for the Worlds 2001 in Ghent Men: Thomas Andergassen, Valeri Belenki, Sven Kwiatkowski, Stephan Zapf. Three more gymnasts to be nominated. Women: Katja Abel, Birgit Schweigert, Lisa Brüggemann, Gabi Weller, Conny Schütz, Yvonne Musik. One gymnast more to be nominated.

nora schuler