Aug 13, 2008, 8:19 GMT
Beijing - Many Danish Olympic contestants lack grit, Danish International Olympic Committee member Kai Holm said in an interview published Wednesday.
Danish tennis player Caroline Wozniacki was 'an exception', Kai Holm was quoted as telling the Politiken newspaper after watching her play in the Olympic tournament.
'Caroline mostly takes on superior players that are stronger than she is and the top players are often faster than she is. But she fights to win,' Holm said.
'When I saw her lose her serve, I saw her grit her teeth to get back. That is something I miss at these Olympics - there are too few Danes that grit their teeth,' said Holm who for 25 years headed the Danish Sports Confederation.
Holm said factors that contributed to the meagre results for Danish contestants was that 'many Danish athletes are too sheltered at home' and have problems coping with the scope of an Olympic competition compared to a world championship or European championship event.
'Here in Beijing there is such an enormous amount of athletes, some 177 things that can distract them,' he said.
Holm said he expected Denmark to win two medals at the Beijing Games while Team Denmark has aimed for seven.
'But I really hope I am proved wrong,' Holm said.
Holm is slated to step down next year. Denmark has launched Crown Prince Frederik, 40, to succeed Holm.
Frederik met his wife, Australian-born Crown Princess Mary, at a Sydney pub during the 2000 Olympics. They were married in 2004.
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