Why did you choose to pursue track cycling?
I was introduced to cycling at the Volkstriathlon in Göttingen, in which I used to participate as a kid, and at a summer vacation camp run by my home club.
When did you start preparing for the 2024 Olympics?
In principle, I started to prepare for the Olympics after the last games, i.e. in the fall of 2021. However, the direct preparations started at the end of October 2023.
Gold medal or is being there everything?
To be honest, “just being there” is not enough. It's absolutely about achieving the best possible result with the 4-men team – but, unfortunately, the gold medal is not within reach.
University and the Olympics – how does this go together?
This semester, for example, I'm taking modules that are recorded and I'm only doing as many as I can fit in without stressing about it too much.
And when it's not the Olympics, how do elite sports and university go together?
It would certainly be easier to be just an athlete or just a student. However, I don't train twelve hours a day and I won’t be able to compete forever. After my career as an athlete, I want to keep going and not end up in a job that I don't like. The combination of university and elite sports works for me, especially during the training phases and with a good routine. What makes it difficult, however, is frequent traveling. During competitions, I do not have time to study. Fortunately, I can usually manage with less time than planned for the modules.
Is there some downtime left?
I do my best to live my life the way I want to, not to miss out on the fun, and to make as many experiences as possible. But right now, before the Olympics, private life outside of sports is taking a back seat. I've been at home for less than two weeks since 1 January 2024, but have been at competitions, training camps, and courses almost all the time. I travel a lot, but that's also the biggest disadvantage of competitive sport and cycling for me.
What is more stressful for you: A competition or an examination?
I have a set routine for competitions, so sometimes you get excited, but not actually stressed. In general, the first European Championships, the first World Championships etc. are always more exciting than the following championships. It doesn’t work without some tension. The Olympics, however, are on another level, so hopefully I'll be able to say more soon ... I tend to get more stressed during presentations, term papers, or exams when the deadline is approaching and I'm not satisfied.
