Our best gymnasts have new coaches who will lead them to the Olympic Games in Paris. Three weeks after the sacking of Marjorie Huells and Eve Kiefer, the gymnastics federation introduces a new duo: Ola Koch is helping the Belgian gymnasts out of the emergency situation as interim head coach, and her husband Dieter Koch becomes assistant. “Ola Koch is a champion coach,” says Jimved.
Ola Koch (68 years old) has the necessary experience. Until two years ago, she coached German women’s gymnastics. Elisabeth Seitz — a fixture on the uneven bars, Nina Druel’s specialty — was one of the athletes who worked under her wing.
“We are very proud to have a great coach like Ola join our team,” says Robin Neens, Senior Sports Director at Gymfed.
In 2020, Koch was honored by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) with a Lifetime Achievement Award for her work as a gymnastics coach.
German coach Ola Koch will take over as interim head coach from November 21, 2023 until the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. She will guide the gymnasts towards qualifying for the next Olympic Games and European Championships in Italy in May 2024.
Ulla Koch’s mission: to guide the best Belgian gymnasts towards the Olympics.
Looking ahead, there will be a transition period after the Olympics during which Ola Koch, pending the appointment of a new permanent head coach, will continue to guide the gymnasts towards the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028 and Brisbane in 2028. 2032.
Her husband and assistant coach Dieter Koch is also an experienced gymnastics coach. Interestingly, it has also been linked to stress in the past.
I. Koch: “It is a great honor for me”
In recent days, Ulla Koch visited the Topsporthal in Ghent to meet and support top athletes.
“It is a great honor for me to lead Belgian gymnasts towards their goals,” she replied.
“They have achieved great results at the past Olympics. I look forward to working with the entire team to achieve these common goals together.”
Koch coached the German women’s national team between 2005 and 2021. Before that, she coached 5 gymnasts at the Olympic Games between 1992 and 2004, 13 gymnasts at 10 World Championships and 9 gymnasts at 7 European Championships.
Ola Koch will move to Belgium with her husband, Dieter Koch.
Ola Koch and German gymnast Elisabeth Seitz at the Tokyo Olympics.
“Subtly charming internet specialist. Avid writer. Friendly alcohol guru. Music ninja. Devoted social media fanatic.”
More Stories
Thibaut Ness loses the leader's jersey to Ayuso in the Tour de Romandie, and McNulty wins the time trial
“AA Ghent is on the verge of despair: a disaster scenario in the making”
KRC Genk box office: close to 100 million marks