Talisman Christopher Rühr, who suffered a torn cruciate ligament in Olympic qualifying semi-finals in January, has made a rapid recovery in time to make the cut for the Paris Olympics.
Ruhr had already taken a large chunk out of hockey following Germany’s World Cup win last year, but was announced in men’s national coach André Henning’s 16-strong squad for Paris. He made a return in Germany’s Pro League games in London.
Henning has picked 17 players who won the World Cup title in 2023. Germany, the London 2012 champions, finished fourth in Tokyo.
Captain Mats Grambusch, Rühr, Niklas Wellen and Martin Zwicker will be four players who are already on the hunt for medals for the third time.
For corner specialist Gonzalo Peillat, it is also a third Olympic Games. In London 2012 and Rio 2016, he competed for Argentina. There are seven debutants in all, including goalkeeper Jean Danneberg.
Germany men’s squad
Goalkeeper: Jean Danneberg
Outfield players: (02) Mathias Müller, (03) Mats Grambusch (C.), (04) Lukas Windfeder, (09) Niklas Wellen, (10) Johannes Große, (11) Thies Prinz, (14) Teo Hinrichs, (15) Tom Grambusch, (16) Gonzalo Peillat, (17) Christopher Rühr, (19) Justus Weigand, (22) Marco Miltkau, (23) Martin Zwicker, (25) Hannes Müller, (44) Moritz Ludwig
Reserves: (1) Alexander Stadler, (13) Paul-Philipp Kaufmann, (29) Malte Hellwig
–READ MORE: Paris 2024 Olympics: Hockey schedule, match fixtures
–Our full Olympic coverage of 2024 Games
Henning said: “We have significantly more than 19 very good players in Germany who would have deserved to go to Paris. On the one hand, it is bitter not to be there, although many candidates have done a lot right here.”
Women’s national coach Valentin Altenburg told his players in the changing room following his side’s last Pro League game on Wednesday.
Altenburg said: “The Danas have become a team that wins together more and more often. Who laughs and mourns together, who is there for each other and who looks each other in the eye at important moments like a nomination.”
Germany women’s squad
Goalkeeper: (15) Nathalie Kubalski
Outfield players: (02) Kira Horn, (03) Amelie Wortmann, (04) Nike Lorenz (C.), (05) Selin Oruz, (06) Benedetta Wenzel, (08) Anne Schröder, (10) Lisa Nolte, (11) Lena Micheel, (12) Charlotte Stapenhorst, (16) Sonja Zimmermann, (25) Viktoria Huse, (26) Felicia Wiedermann, (27) Stine Kurz, (28) Jette Fleschütz, (31) Linnea Weidemann
Reserves:: (20) Julia Sonntag, (22) Cecile Pieper, (23) Emma Davidsmeyer
Captain Nike Lorenz, Selin Oruz, Anne Schröder and Charlotte Stapenhorst will play their third Games. Germany won bronze in 2016.
Belgium announced their squad several days ago. Would be good to have the details of all other teams as they emerge.