The golden Konstanze: Klosterhalfen flies to the European title
Created: 08/19/2022, 11:22 am
By: Nico-Marius Schmitz
New European Champion: Konstanze Klosterhalfen.
© afp
The German long-distance specialist Konstanze Klosterhalfen caused a surprise over the 5000 meters and won gold for Germany.
Munich – Konstanze Klosterhalfen just couldn't get enough of running.
With a sensational race, Klosterhalfen was crowned the new European champion over the 5000 meters in 14:50.47 minutes.
Then grabbed the German flag and did another 400-meter lap of honor.
The victory seemed like a liberation.
"I have no words.
My coach said let's take a break.
I can't believe it," she said.
It's finally here, the great triumph for this gifted runner.
Klosterhalfen holds the German records over 3,000, 5,000 and 10,000 meters and is often referred to as the "talent of the century".
However, the hoped-for title did not materialize for a long time after moving to the USA, and Klosterhalfen often collapsed at major events.
This was also the case at the World Championships in Eugene, when she missed the 5000 meter final and then stood in front of the TV cameras at a loss and with tears in her eyes.
In Munich, the 25-year-old wanted to regain the feeling of flying over the track.
"It's always the best feeling.
If you can think in the race, it's never a good sign," she told our newspaper.
She finished fourth in the 10,000 meters, surpassing her best by just three and a half seconds.
On Thursday, Karoline Bjerkeli Grøvdal,
Fastest of the year in Europe, early to the front of the field.
Directly behind is Yasemin Can, who has already won over 10,000 meters in Munich and was considered the favourite.
Can repeatedly set spikes, increased the pace and tore the group apart.
With long strides, the Turkish woman, of Kenyan descent, stormed forward.
And tore the first hole.
The Norwegian Grøvdal got out, Klosterhalfen stayed on the heels of the leader and caught up again on the penultimate lap.
The audience stood up, the German passed Can.
There it was again, the feeling that Klosterhalfen was flying over the track and couldn't be stopped.
increased the tempo and tore the group apart.
With long strides, the Turkish woman, of Kenyan descent, stormed forward.
And ripped the first hole.
The Norwegian Grøvdal got out, Klosterhalfen stayed on the heels of the leader and caught up again on the penultimate lap.
The audience stood up, the German passed Can.
There it was again, the feeling that Klosterhalfen was flying over the track and couldn't be stopped.
increased the tempo and tore the group apart.
With long strides, the Turkish woman, of Kenyan descent, stormed forward.
And ripped the first hole.
The Norwegian Grøvdal got out, Klosterhalfen stayed on the heels of the leader and caught up again on the penultimate lap.
The audience stood up, the German passed Can.
There it was again, the feeling that Klosterhalfen was flying over the track and couldn't be stopped.
"I didn't run alone today.
I heard this sound, it was amazing," Klosterhalfen said of the fans.
"I'm incredibly happy.
I didn't even dare to think of a medal.” nms