The German hockey goalie who was silenced by a Dutch player after losing the Olympic final called the mockery “the most disrespectful thing I have ever experienced in sports”.
Jean-Paul Danneberg was distraught and knelt down after giving away the decisive penalty, while Duco Telgenkamp ran to him to ease the pain.
The Netherlands had won the shoot-out 3-1 after a 1-1 draw and Telgenkamp, the final scorer, shushed the goalkeeper before taking his helmet. His taunt appeared to be a response to Danneberg suggesting before the match that the Netherlands were “afraid” of Germany.
The action led to angry scenes, with Floris Middendorp grabbing German Niklas Wellen by the neck after he had cheered in front of the Dutch crowd.
“That was the most disrespectful thing I’ve ever experienced in sports,” goalkeeper Danneberg said.
German hockey goalkeeper Jean-Paul Danneberg called Duco Telgenkamp’s quip “the most disrespectful thing I’ve ever experienced in sports” after losing the Olympic final
An ugly brawl broke out after the men’s hockey gold medal match in Paris
The Germans reacted angrily to Telgenkamp’s gesture after they lost 3-1 on penalties
Florin Middeldrop’s hand ended up around Niklas Wellen’s neck as angry scenes ensued
‘I don’t understand how anyone can be such a bad winner.
“It’s the best moment of his life and he gets booed for it at the awards ceremony.”
However, Telgenkamp tried to justify his actions by stating that he was irritated by pre-match comments that would diminish their chances.
“There were articles and we took them personally. Then it became very emotional,” he said.
“What I did was not nice. I regret the way I acted. Again, emotions came to the surface at the end. But it is what it is: we won. I would have apologized if I had seen him.”
The angry commotion did not go down well with the home fans, who expressed their disapproval of the Dutch team en masse on social media.
“He could have won with dignity but was a poor winner,” one fan said on Reddit.
Another said: ‘Was wondering why there was a fight until they showed this. Not cool of the winners.’
The Netherlands won gold, but were described as ‘sour winners’ by fans on social media
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“I’m deeply ashamed,” said a third fan. “A bunch of privileged kids.”
“I think the goalie feels bad enough already,” another fan added. “No need to mock. Go celebrate your gold.”
A fifth fan said: ‘Embarrassing. Sour winners are worse than sour losers.’
“It depends on what the German said, but that’s not true,” another Reddit user said. “Be the bigger men, enjoy the gold.”
Thursday’s victory gave the Dutch men their third gold medal and tenth medal in hockey since 1928. The last time they won gold was at the 2000 Sydney Games, after losing in the 2004 and 2012 finals.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was in the stands to watch his country’s ‘Holland!’ and ‘Deutschland!’ battle it out in a thrilling defensive match.
Germany and the Netherlands were limited to six and seven shots on target respectively, with the Germans having 57% possession, but the Dutch doubled their number of attacking circle penetrations with 20.
Dutch captain Thierry Brinkman finally opened the scoring in the 46th minute, directing a shot from teammate Koen Bijen, but the shot was tipped over Danneberg.
German defender Gonzalo Peillat saved his team in the 49th minute by catching a shot with his stick on the goal line. The ball had gone over the prone Danneberg, who had stopped a shot with a dive moments earlier.
Germany immediately put pressure on the Dutch defence, who gave away a penalty corner. Midfielder Thies Prinz used it to level the score by backing out of the circle and firing a shot that flew past goalkeeper Pirmin Blaak.
In the final minute, the Netherlands were awarded a penalty corner. Defender Jip Janssen ripped off his stick, but the ball went wide and penalties had to be taken.
Danneberg saved Jonas de Geus’ first penalty by diving to block the shot, while Pirmin responded by holding Niklas Wellen’s ball between his gloves.
Danneberg also saved the second penalty, catching it with his pad hand as he dived. Pirmin then saved Hannes Mueller’s attempt with his pad to keep the shootout score at 0-0.
Brinkman scored the first shootout goal of the set with a spinning backhand, lifting the ball between Danneberg’s leg and stick. Pirmin then saved Prinz’s shot with his pad hand.
Thijs van Dam followed his captain and shot the ball between Danneberg’s legs, leaving the Germans hanging in the net.
Justus Weigand scored the first German goal in the shoot-out, rounding Pirmin’s defence, but it was too late as Telgenkamp’s shot bounced off the boards, giving the Dutch the gold medal. Germany had just one more chance.