Compensation for pain and suffering and damages: Hempel relieved

Former water diver Jan Hempel has called the end of the dispute with the German Swimming Federation over compensation for years of sexual abuse a "milestone" that will be followed by "more." "There were many ups and downs. It was very difficult, but we are now first of all relieved that a little more peace is coming," said the 52-year-old on Tuesday in the ARD morning show.

At the same time, Hempel announced that he wanted to stand up for other victims and called for the abolition of the statute of limitations in cases of sexual abuse: "This period must be put to the test."

On Monday, Hempel's lawyer Thomas Summerer and his manager Oliver Hillebrecht, as well as the DSV, had informed about the agreement after protracted negotiations. The DSV will pay the 1996 Olympic silver medalist compensation for pain and suffering and damages totaling 600,000 euros. The settlement guarantees Hempel a fixed payment of 300,000 euros as well as a payment of another 300,000 euros in monthly installments over ten years. The amount of this compensation for pain and suffering is unusual in Germany.

Hempel's case had triggered a broad discussion about abuse and violence in German sports and how to deal with them. In an ARD documentary titled "Abused - Sexualized Violence in German Swimming," Hempel had made public for the first time in August 2022 the allegations of sexual abuse against his longtime coach Werner Langer, who died in 2001. According to the film, Langer allegedly committed sexual abuse against the 1996 Atlanta Olympic silver medalist from 1982 to 1996. In the film, Hempel accused the DSV of having known about the allegations as early as 1997, but not having done anything decisive.

In addition, Hempel raised accusations against former national vault coach Lutz Buschkow of having learned about his years of abuse already at the end of the 1990s after the fact, but also not having done anything decisive about it. Buschkow denies this. The DSV had nevertheless terminated him without notice in mid-October 2022, Buschkow sued against it. In February 2024, the trial continues before the Labor Court Halle/Saale.

"When this trial is completed, another stone will have been loosened in my life. I hope that this will be finished at some point. Then I will be able to sleep more peacefully again," Hempel said.