Klosterhalfen wants to beat the world: her coach didn't want to let her start at all

Created: 2022-08-20 11:43 am

By: Nico-Marius Schmitz

Konstanze Klosterhalfen celebrates gold after 5000 meters.

© RONALD WITTEK

The liberating EM triumph is said to have been just the start for the 25-year-old.

Konstanze Klosterhalfen wants to beat the whole world.

Munich – Konstanze Klosterhalfen won twice this week.

First against their coach, then the gold medal.

Pete Julian had recommended Klosterhalfen after the 10,000 meters (here she was fourth and stayed just three and a half seconds above her German record) not to start on Thursday and rather to regenerate.

But on Monday there was a conversation with her manager Dany Biegler.

Result: better sleep on it one night, decide with a cool head.

After the treatment by the physiotherapist on Tuesday, Klosterhalfen felt that she wanted to start.

"I really wanted to run here, also for the public." Julian gave the green light, flew to Munich without further ado and watched his protégé fly over the tartan track of the Munich Olympic Stadium to the European Championship title.

"It's the best moment of my life.

It's a Dream.

This euphoria, I could have kept running," said Klosterhalfen.

After the 5000 meters she had added two laps of honor with the German flag over her shoulders.

"She's the toughest athlete I've ever trained.

She always gives you more than she actually has," reported her trainer Pete Julian in Munich.

"She wants everything.

It's my job to steer it in the right direction and teach her patience." In 2018, Klosterhalfen shifted her training focus to the USA.

The move was met with criticism.

Julian was an assistant coach at the controversial Nike Oregon Project under Alberto Salazar.

Salazar has been banned for four years for doping violations.

But Klosterhalfen not only struggled with that, but also with the increased expectations.

The "talent of the century", who didn't win a title for a long time and was often unable to show her full performance potential at major events.

"Especially after the last two years, this title means so much to me," she said.

Klosterhalfen did few competitions in 2020, had hip problems and an overload reaction.

In January of this year she fell, thigh injury, had to cancel the indoor season.

Before the German Championships, she became infected with the corona virus.

With weaker performances, there are always doubts as to whether the virus is still in the body.

Munich was a liberation run for Klosterhalfen.

From the start she wanted to bring back that smile and that good feeling at the European Championships at home.

And prove in Germany that it can also do major events.

With 650 meters to go, she flew past the leading Yasemin Can, European 10,000 meter champion.

Klosterhalfen hadn't expected such a strong race until the end, right down to the last step.

“Step by step the audience got louder.

It was amazing," she reported with a grin on the course of the race: "It was so loud, I didn't even hear the bell from the last lap."

The celebration that followed lasted until 3:30 in the morning.

With the permission of Julian, of course, who watched a Klosterhalfen competition in Germany for the first time.

The collaboration between the American coach and the native of Bonn was designed from the start to win titles.

"Actually, I only coach those who are medal candidates," Julian said to Klosterhalfen.

She is no longer a candidate, but a medalist.

It should be the prelude to further triumphs, also against the overpowering African competition on the long haul.

"The first goal remains to beat the world," said the 25-year-old.

"Yes, she seems fragile," said Julian.

"But she's getting stronger and taking care of herself.

It's a maturing process." Klosterhalfen already knows what's waiting for her: "If I stay healthy, then we can train hard." Train hard, then beat the world.