EINZELKÄMPFER

“Our successful socialist sportspeople went out into the world carrying the state’s flag and came back with medals.” Athletes Marita Koch, Udo Beyer and Ines Geipel and the diver, Brita Baldus, became highly successful through the sports development system of the GDR. After reunification they had to reposition themselves. The individuals battled on within a new system. This film radically contrasts the different life choices they made. For Marita Koch and Udo Bayer it was predominantly about maintaining their fading glory and to play by the rules as much as possible. Ines Geipel dedicated herself to explaining the doping system and its consequences and for this she paid a high price. Two conflicting points of view on a poignant chapter in German social history. Daniel Sponsel