Article from Sport1 | Translation to English: Ulla Fischer | Proofreader: Katie Ellis - Ronald Rauhe, the 13 times sprint world champion blamed the German canoe association (DKV) for the historical debacle at the sprint world championships in Moscow.

“Maybe it is necessary to examine our past and reconsider the old qualities and features which once brought us success. On the other hand, maybe we should have a more up-to-date approach and have the courage to try out new things”, said the Athens Olympic champion on the TV channel “ARD”.

The previously very successful German canoe association fell short of its own goals for the world cup in the Russian capital with only one gold, one silver and one bronze medal in the twelve Olympic disciplines. This is the worst result since the German reunification.

The German canoe association announced that there will be a comprehensive analysis of the disappointing results. “We need to investigate where mistakes were made but without stress or time pressures,” said association (DKV) president Thomas Konietzko.

At the world championships in Milano in 2015 there will be a focus on qualification for the Olympic Games in 2016 in Rio. “Next year we have to put our full focus on the world championships as it is all about the quota places for the Olympics. It is not hopeless,” said head coach Reiner Kießler.

In Moscow it was evident that the other nations were catching up and that the highest ranking world class athletes are now finishing closer together than ever. Despite this, the German canoe association gave its athletes more freedom for their education (study) in this racing season.

Olympic champion Sebastian Brendel (Potsdam) brought in the only title in the all-important Olympic categories, over the 1000m. Rauhe (Potsdam) and Tom Liebscher (Dresden) won silver in the K2 over the 200m, while Yul Oeltze and Ronald Verch (Magdeburg/Potsdam) picked up a bronze in the C2 over 1000m.

Weakest canoe results since 1990

Despite the outstanding performance of Sebastian Brendel, the German athletes ended the World championships with the worst result since the German reunification.

The team, which was spoiled with success in the past, scored only one gold, one silver and one bronze medal amongst the 12 Olympic distances. The target of the canoe association was to win six medals and score two titles.

"We did not fulfil our own expectations and saw more shade than light", said association president Thomas Konietzko referring to the disappointing fourth place in the medals table.

Only Olympic champion Sebastian Brendel fulfilled the expectations with his gold medal over the Olympic distance of 1000m. Besides that, the European champion from Potsdam won the world cup title over the non- Olympic 5000m and added a silver medal over the non- Olympic 500m to that on Sunday.

Results World Championships Moscow: www.sportscene.tv/flatwater/canoe-sprint/result-archive/icf-world-championships-canoe-sprint-moscow