Page 1/3 Sportwoche, Nr. 48/30.11.04 Interview: Manfred Behr
"I keep my mouth shut more frequently!"
European championship star Markus Rogan. Why the "Big Fish" has put a muzzle on himself, wants to candidate as an IOC official in 2008, and is doing his bit for a Viennese basketball association.
Two European championship golds, two Olympic silver medals, Sportsman of the Year, bearer of the republic's honorary golden award, bearer of the UNO's "Vienna Civil Society Award" and the European "Fair Play Award", and juicy sponsorship contracts. There's no doubt that it was Markus Rogan's year. And it's certainly not over yet. The 22-year-old should scoop the awards again at the European championship in Vienna from 9. - 12.12. In an exclusive interview with SportWoche, the silverfish talks about both the sunny and dark sides of the Rogan hype.
Manfred Behr: Following weeks of omnipresence in the media, the number of your appearances and interviews have become more scarce. A conscious retreat?
Markus Rogan: Correct, I want to concentrate on swimming and to demonstrate that the success has not gone to my head. For this reason, I have had to turn many invitations down, tried to keep my mouth shut more frequently. Which was admittedly difficult for me to begin with. However, the statement that I suddenly appeared everywhere following Athens is not true. It's only that it didn't interest anyone before when I watched a national match, for example.
Mit Stiefvater Dr. Michael Schmitz
But lately, you didn't want to even make a comment on the US election. One of your core competences.
Especially in Austria, with political statements you run the risk of being put in a box. Initially it was perhaps the cockiness of youth when I said something in a carefree way. But I've realised: You can't make a comment on everything without losing credibility. Furthermore, I was sometimes misunderstood. Particularly when I should convey my thoughts in 15 TV seconds. I think it's worthwhile for me to limit myself to a few positive messages. Such as in my speech at the presentation of the UNO award. My core message: Through sport, you learn to respect yourself.
