Winter Games: Statement against hate: Olympic ban on speed skating shoes

“I had a lot of statements printed on my old custom-made shoe. For example: Hate is not an opinion. Discrimination is a crime,” said Schlörb to the “Sächsische Zeitung”. That’s why the 2024 vice-European champion contacted the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) early on.

No politics in competition

Almost six months later, the IOC issued the ban with reference to Rule 50 of the Olympic Charter. The competition field “must be completely free of political thoughts. You can do anything around it, wear anything, say anything – but during the competition itself you are not allowed to make any political statements,” said the Dresden native.

Schlörb then made the inscriptions unrecognizable, but according to her, the IOC also banned this version. There could be questions about what was written on it, it was said.

World map out of “respect”

Schlörb developed a new design, printing a world map with the word respect in different colors on the shoes. This was approved by the IOC, but there was a lot of work behind it for Schlörb. She had to prove that all the words actually meant “respect.”

“I created an Excel spreadsheet specifically for this. With the literal translation, alternative translation options and which sources I used. I really wanted to be on the safe side,” said the athlete. The new shoe is also custom-made and Schlörb said she “loves this shoe.” In the team pursuit, Schlörb wants to compete for the medals with Lea Sophie Scholz and Josie Hofmann.