Pötzsch: Grateful to have had Jutta Müller

Germany's first Olympic figure skating champion Anett Pötzsch has reacted with deep sadness to the death of her long-time coach Jutta Müller. "Admittedly, one always had to expect it, also because of her advanced age. But when it is so far, it has something final. And I have a problem with that," the 63-year-old told Deutsche Presse-Agentur on Thursday. Müller had died on Thursday at the age of 94 in a nursing home near Berlin.

Pötzsch, who had become Olympic champion in Lake Placid in 1980 and had also won two world championship gold medals and four European championship titles, emphasized Müller's part in her successes. "I am grateful to have had her by my side. Without her, I probably wouldn't have made it this far," said the Chemnitz native.

Although Müller was considered the "Iron Lady," she had also been close to her athletes, taking care of their worries. "What she could convey mega in any case was to have goals, perseverance and discipline. You can benefit from that in difficult phases to this day, because you've already made it once," Pötzsch said.