“It’s dramatic”
Klosterhalfen’s appearances cause concern
May 13, 2024, 2:27 p.m
Konstanze Klosterhalfen is the most successful German long-distance athlete, but the European champion is fighting for her form – and for the norm for the Olympic Games. The national coach is worried.
No form and no standard (yet): national coach Isabelle Baumann is worried about running ace Konstanze Klosterhalfen. “It’s dramatic when you have a defending champion in the country and then you have to see her fighting like that,” said Baumann on Sport1 about the 5000-meter European champion, who has not gotten going this season so far.
“I have no explanation for it, except that it’s difficult because she’s running behind her performance,” said Baumann about Klosterhalfen: “Of course she’s putting herself under pressure because she’s dissatisfied.” While Klosterhalfen, as the defending champion, has a wildcard for the European Championships in Rome (June 7th to 12th), she still has to qualify for the Olympic Games in Paris (July 26th to August 11th). So far, Klosterhalfen has made three attempts for the standard over 10,000 meters (30:40.00 minutes), her best time being 31:07 minutes in a road race in Spain.
But Baumann, wife of Olympic champion Dieter Baumann, believes that the former World Cup third place Klosterhalfen can turn things around. “There are no miracles in sport, but I think that Koko has the chance to find her way back because of her talent,” she said: “It’s clear that it won’t be easy in such a short time.”
Klosterhalfen started the season in February with a half marathon after lengthy injury problems, which she had to abandon. Because of a stress reaction in her foot, she canceled her start at the German championships in early July in 2023 and then also missed the following World Cup in Budapest. The Leverkusen player had not been able to match her performance before. In October she told the “Bonner General-Anzeiger” that she was dreaming of a double start in Paris over 5,000 and 10,000 meters.