- Commencement absent at World Cup: Hinze breaks global record in extended pause
World-Class Cyclist Emma Hinze hints at a potential comeback on the tracks following another world record achievement. After smashing her personal best of 27.063 seconds in the flying 500m event at the Berlin Velodrome, the 26-year-old announced she wouldn't be participating in the World Championships from October 16 to 20 in Ballerup, Denmark.
"I'm skipping the Worlds and taking a extended break now. My head needs a change of scenery for a few weeks," stated the bronze medalist from Paris. Alongside her coach and partner Maximilian Levy, she's jetting off to the Maldives.
Hinze remains non-committal about retirement but leaves uncertain when she'll continue chasing titles and records. "I wouldn't write off Los Angeles 2028, but four years is a long stretch. I think I'll take it one year at a time," said Hinze, slightly disheartened by her results in Paris.
Dissatisfaction in Paris
Like in Berlin, the homegrown Hildesheimer offered numerous world records at the Olympics, but ultimately secured the bronze in the team sprint with Pauline Grabosch and Lea Friedrich, placed fifth in the keirin, and sixth in the sprint. "I can't blame myself. It's still tough to swallow the result. After Tokyo 2021, this is the second time other nations have surpassed us," said Hinze, who bagged silver in the team sprint with Lea Friedrich in Japan.
Between Tokyo and Paris, the German sprinters reigned supreme in the short-track events at the Worlds and Europeans, securing the rainbow jersey in the team sprint four consecutive times from 2020 to 2023. However, the elusive Olympic gold continued to evade them even in Paris.
Despite her dissatisfaction with her performances in Paris, Emma Hinze still holds the World record in the flying 500m event with a time of 27.063 seconds, which she set in Berlin. After her unsuccessful World Championship bid and a brief break, Hinze might aim to break her own World record or even aim for the World record in other events in her future competitions.
