German speed skating prospect Finn Sonnekalb is considering a move abroad after locking horns with the German Ice Speed Skating Association (DESG) over a contentious structural reform and a stalled athlete agreement, the ARD-Sportschau reported.
Offers from the Netherlands and United States
The 19-year-old Olympic participant revealed that he has already held conversations regarding opportunities outside of Germany. Sonnekalb told the ARD-Sportschau that he has received concrete proposals from abroad and is actively evaluating his next career steps.
“I have offers from the USA and Holland. I have had discussions, I am in exchange,” Sonnekalb said. “There are people who want to have me, and if they don’t want to have me here, then I can’t change it.”
According to media reports, Sonnekalb is specifically weighing a transfer to the Dutch national program based in the speed skating stronghold of Heerenveen. Unlike a domestic relocation to Berlin, a move to Heerenveen would be entirely voluntary and would allow him to train alongside elite international competitors.
“I feel pressured, which is why I don’t want to sign this athlete agreement and also don’t want to leave my hometown under pressure,” Sonnekalb said of the ongoing friction within German sports governance. “Then I’m out, then they have to do it without me.” He added that an international transfer could be executed immediately, noting he would only need to announce his arrival.
DESG restructuring leads to void athlete agreements
The core of the dispute stems from a planned restructuring by the DESG. The governing body decided to concentrate federal squad training at two primary national bases in Inzell and Berlin, while downgrading the status of secondary training hubs in Erfurt—where Sonnekalb trains—and Chemnitz to focus primarily on junior development.
To formalize these changes, the DESG required athletes to sign a mandatory athlete agreement. However, skaters from Erfurt conditioned their signatures on specific terms that the DESG leadership ultimately rejected, rendering the timely signed agreements legally void.
The conflict escalated significantly prior to the Milan Olympic cycle. Reflecting on the tumultuous buildup, Sonnekalb expressed deep frustration with the administrative climate. “Before the Olympic Games in Milan, there was so much talk about how great everything was going to be. The exact opposite happened. Nothing has turned out well. Everything has gone down the drain,” he said. “There was a time when I woke up early and didn’t know if I still had a job. There was a time when I didn’t know if I wanted to continue doing the sport.”
DESG maintains moratorium until end of 2026
Tensions temporarily eased following a high-level summit where all parties agreed to a formal truce. The Thuringian Ice and Sports Association (Terv) has demanded the resignation of the DESG executive committee led by Matthias Große.
In response to inquiries regarding the governance crisis, the DESG informed the ARD-Sportschau that it will adhere to the agreed-upon moratorium through the end of 2026. The federation stated that it will issue no further commentary on individual questions raised by athletes or regional associations until that period concludes.
