Cycling: The former track professional Robert Bartko should bring new impetus for the German speed skating sport as a career changer.
Robert Bartko, double Olympic track cycling champion from Sydney 2000, is the new sports director of the Speed Skating Association (DESG). Internal quarrels meant that the DESG, in cooperation with the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB), was looking for a new man for the sports area. As the successor to the controversial Günter Schuhmacher, who has been on sick leave since June, Bartko should now set new standards for competitive sports.
At the home World Cup in Berlin, Bartko will officially appear as sports director for the first time on Friday. The 38-year-old sees his new job as an interesting challenge and first wants to get an overview of the situation at DESG. His main focus should be on youth work. There is a lot of work to do to improve the structures.