The full extent of the “damage” only became apparent when Frank Stäbler changed clothes for the photos.
Without a t-shirt the view of the three-time wrestling world champion’s left shoulder, completely covered with tape, was clear. The great hope has to prepare for the Olympic Games postponed to the coming year with a severe handicap – a corner joint explosion could destroy the dream of gold.
“My doctor says the shoulder looks like that of a 60-year-old. But we are trying everything to get the whole thing under control,” said Stäbler during a press conference about the injury he had suffered in training weeks ago. The 31-year-old does not have an operation and relies on conservative treatment, but the goals of the German flagship have shifted with a view to the Olympics.
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Stäbler: There’s an open bill with the Olympics
“The body begins to rebel. The dream of gold will be difficult to realize. Most of the other top people are between 23 and 28 years of age, for whom a year more preparation is even an advantage,” said Stäbler: “I can only really do something about it I still want to make my peace with the Olympics in Tokyo. It’s not just the Olympic victory that counts, but the way there. I want to be a role model, because nowadays people give up too soon. “
The Greco-Roman specialist actually wanted to end his international career a few weeks ago. His last sporting goal was the Olympic final planned for August 5th. The corona pandemic has thwarted Stäbler, whose wife Sandra is expecting the second child in February.
Stäbler still has an open plan with the Olympics. After losing the battle for bronze in London in 2012 at the beginning of his international career, he suffered a syndrome four years later in the run-up to the Rio Games. The actual top favorite for gold did not get more than a seventh place.
Whole life was focused on 2021
For Tokyo 2020, the podium, preferably the one at the top, was firmly planned. Stäbler has focused his entire life on this in recent years. The undisputed triumph at the European Championships in February without much preparation from training suggested that he is on the right track.
But then came the Olympic cancellation and later the injury. Despite the injury, there are currently ten training units per week on the program for Stäbler, and the national team has been meeting again for courses for three weeks now: “Normally I would be a sports pensioner now. But the circumstances are just as crazy as ever.”
August 4, 2021 – the new day X
These circumstances also include the fact that Stäbler was only able to complete five fights this year. In the coming weeks, the UWW world association wants to decide whether a World Cup will take place in Serbia at short notice in December. There could also be an EM in Poland in the spring. “We absolutely need a tournament for fighting practice,” said Stäbler: “For me, everything is designed for the new day X – August 4, 2021.”
Stäbler, who has to “boil” from his 75 kg to 67 kg one last time for the start in Tokyo, wants to achieve an intermediate goal on the day before Christmas Eve. Then Stäbler would like to move into his new home with his pregnant wife and two-year-old daughter Alia, which is currently being built close to his parents’ house: “That would be a dream.”
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