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Photo: DPA

Stalker fined for sending genital pic to high jumper

Published: 19 Jul 12 16:29 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/sport/20120719-43859.html

A German man who sent a photo of his genitals to German high jumper Ariane Friedrich was fined on Thursday. She was flung into the media spotlight when refusing to be intimidated, she posted his name and address online.

Just a week before the London Olympics, the 28-year-old German champion’s attention has been pulled back to the stalker who in April sent her a photos of his genitals in an email.

The 38-year-old man admitted to the Marburg regional court he had harassed Friedrich over the internet and sent her the sexually explicit photo. State prosecutor Annemarie Wied said this was proof enough that he had done it. He has been fined €1,050.

Friedrich was feted around the world after she turned to her Facebook site to name and shame him, publishing his details online.

“It’s time to act, it’s time to defend myself. And that’s what I’m doing. No more and no less,” wrote the Frankfurt-based athlete, who by profession is a policewoman.

Publishing the man’s name, email and home address was a big step, admitted Friedrich. Still, she said, it was not the first time she had received a “brazen” email like that from a fan.

Her reaction provoked reaction worldwide, with feminists praising her courage to speak up about sexual harassment and refuse to be intimated by it.

Others criticised her for invading his privacy by posting his private information online without consent.

And some criticised those who supported her, comparing them to Facebook bullies who had called for the lynching of a falsely accused suspect in the case of a murdered young girl.

Since the incident, Friedrich has withdrawn from the public eye. She rarely gives interviews and allegedly regularly changes where she trains regularly, so as not to attract attention.

“I've mutated into an analytical person, but I have to turn my brain off,” she said. She has been continuing her training while the court case went on, and has been fighting a couple of injuries which have disrupted her performance.

Her fellow athletes have stood by her the whole time and the president of the German Olympic Sports Association Thomas Bach said that “despite any injuries will be able to come out on top in London.”

DPA/The Local/jcw

What do you think? Leave your comment below.


Your comments about this article:

17:16 July 19, 2012 by twisted
You go, girl. And as for those critics who thought you invaded his privacy, tell them to kiss your A$$.
19:46 July 19, 2012 by auslanderus
Twisted you are correct in your statement. If people feel bad about her act then they are as dum as he was.
20:20 July 19, 2012 by Gretl
Public shaming is a great tool. We don't have stocks in the villages anymore, but we can shame them in virtual stocks via Facebook. If he did want to be exposed via Facebook, he should have thought about that before he exposed himself via internet.
09:22 July 20, 2012 by wood artist
If he didn't want the picture to be shared, he should have kept it to himself. I seriously doubt she signed any confidentiality agreement before he sent it. Whatever happened thereafter is the result of his actions, not hers.

Tough luck, buddy...and, BTW, I doubt the picture was all that impressive.

wa
12:06 July 20, 2012 by Floriansamsel
His privacy was invaded?

Some people are always willing to turn the offender into the victim. Crazy.
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