Klosterhalfen misses out on championships and probably also the Olympics

Athletics - Klosterhalfen misses out on championships and probably also the Olympics

Former European Athletics Champion Konstanze Klosterhalfen has no chance of achieving the Olympic norm anymore and is expected to miss the Summer Games in Paris as a result. The 27-year-old announced her withdrawal from the German Championships taking place from Friday to Sunday in Braunschweig, which the German Athletics Association had set as the last opportunity for Olympic qualification. The Olympics, scheduled for a month without the German record holder in the 5000 and 10,000 meters, will therefore take place without her.

"Not easy for me"

"I held on to hope until the last minute and did everything I could to maintain the chance for the DM and the Olympic norm," said Klosterhalfen in a statement from her club TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen on Wednesday. But she is not yet back to where she wanted to be after her illness. The virus took more from her than she had anticipated, she said. Due to her illness, she had to withdraw as the title defender for the European Championships in early June in Rome.

"That's not easy for me right now, but I'm looking forward. I will continue to focus on training, set new goals, and have good spirits for an exciting late season," said Klosterhalfen, who is feeling better after her illness. She has made progress in training lately, but personal bests are unlikely at this point.

Saving Grace?

Only with an exceptional rule in Olympic nomination would she have a chance for Paris. In the world rankings, she is not in a position for the Summer Games. The third-place finisher at the 2019 World Championships must now endure another difficult year. In the previous year, she missed the German Championships due to a foot injury and then the World Championships in Budapest.

Klosterhalfen herself does not seem to be counting on a third Olympic participation after 2016 and 2021. "Even if I had set other goals for myself for the year, I will make the best of it and hopefully be able to show fast races this year," said the 5000-meter European Champion from Munich 2022.

Press release Athletes Portraits Info DM

1. Despite her best efforts, Konstanze Klosterhalfen, the 5000-meter European Champion from Munich 2022, will miss the Summer Games in Paris as she cannot achieve the Olympic norm anymore.
2. The German Athletics Association had set the German Championships in Braunschweig, taking place from Friday to Sunday, as the last opportunity for Olympic qualification, but Klosterhalfen announced her withdrawal.
3. Klosterhalfen herself, a former European Athletics Champion, stated that her recovery from illness has been more challenging than anticipated, having to withdraw as the title defender for the European Championships in Rome earlier this year.
4. The Olympic Games, scheduled for Paris, will take place without the German record holder in the 5000 and 10,000 meters, Konstanze Klosterhalfen, who hails from Brunswick, Germany.
5. Although Klosterhalfen has made progress in training recently, personal bests are unlikely at this point, and her absence from the Olympics will leave a gap in the competitive field.
6. In a statement from her club TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Klosterhalfen expressed her determination to continue training, set new goals, and maintain a positive attitude for an exciting late season.

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