Germany with worst medal performance in Paris since reunification

Germany ended the Paris Olympics on 12 golds, 33 medals overall and 10th place, their worst summer Games since reunification in 1990.

Although they picked up two more golds than in Tokyo three years ago, the total of 33 medals was four fewer than in Japan and at the low end of expectations.

Tenth place in the rankings is also worse than Tokyo, where Germany came ninth. At the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Summer Games, the German team were among the top six nations.

Jörg Bügner, sporting director at the German Athletics Association, summarized what he thought was the problem in one sentence: "We write Excel spreadsheets, the others train - and that can't be right."

The most successful sports for Germany in Paris were equestrian (five medals, four gold) and canoeing (six medals, two gold).

Germans also performed better than last time in the core Olympic sports of athletics and swimming but the lack of medals from the fencers, wrestlers, sailors and shooters was a surprise.

The German Cycling Federation also fell well short of its expectations with two medals.

In the first Games after reunification, in Barcelona in 1992, Germany won 33 golds and 82 medals in total.

Germany Olympic Sport Confederation president Thomas Weikert told ZDF: "There is a need for action on many levels. We need more coaches and better salaries for coaches. I have been trying to push this forward for many years. It hasn't quite worked yet."

Germany is planning to bid for the 2040 Summer Olympics.