Olympic athlete ‘not used’ in race after publicly complaining about not being able to race alongside her boyfriend
Runner Luna Bulmahn has been dropped from the German athletics team following comments she made online.
Bulmahn - also known as Luna Thiel - has reportedly been 'removed' from the team by the German Olympic Confederation. The decision comes after the runner made a series of complaints on social media.
The 24-year-old was originally part of the German 4x400m mixed relay team, however, she was dropped last minute for Alica Schmidt in a surprise last minute change.
The swap didn't go down well with Bulmahn or her boyfriend Jean Paul Bredau, who was also running in the relay.
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"Yes, I am the second fastest 400-meter athlete on paper,’ Bulmahn wrote in a post on Instagram.
"No, I was not nominated for the mixed relay."
Her comments were echoed by Bredau, who said after the race: "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 (German Athletics Association) made it very clear: the fastest four should run. A different decision was made."
The German team would go on to finish seventh in the race. The pair have since apologised for their remarks, with Bredau cleared to continue racing in Paris.
However Bulmahn has since been axed from the women's 4x400m relay, with a report in the Berlin Tribune stating that she was removed from the Olympics squad as well.
Responding to the news with a statement, the DLV confirmed that Bulmahn had been dropped from the women's race, saying: "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."
The statement continued: "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."
Schmidt also spoke out on the situation, saying: "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."
Bulmahn isn't the first athlete to find themselves at odds with their country's respective Olympic committee, with Paraguayan swimmer Luana Alonso being evicted from the Paris village yesterday.
Alonso, 20, was reportedly asked to leave the complex by officials at by team Paraguay over allegedly creating a 'inappropriate environment' for other athletes.
She has since denied the reports on Instagram, however, a local news outlet has since claimed that she had allegedly angered Paraguayan sports chiefs before the games began with several of her comments.
LADBible has approached the German Athletics Association and the German Olympic Sports Federation for comment.
Brenna Cooper