Lieke Klaver is now an established name in the athletics world, but the 22-year-old athlete from Enhuizen is preparing for her first World Cup among the seniors. Klaver does not run around ambitions. “I said to myself: we are going for a final.”
Lieke Klaver goes to World Cup indoor for ‘secret goal’ – NH Sport / Stephan Brandhorst
In the final, it should fall into place for Klaver to achieve her ‘secret goal’. Her personal best now stands at 51.20 seconds and she should actually improve that to compete for the medal. “But I’m also happy when I walk the way I want to walk.”
Yacht open
On the 400 meters during the Dutch National Championships indoor Klaver lost out to Femke Bol, who ran the fastest season worldwide. Due to the characteristic fast start of Klaver, Bol stayed in her track and then thundered over her in the last lap. “I know people are chasing me, so they’re in the perfect position to run after me,” says Klaver. “It’s a little scary sometimes.”
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Klaver: “Frightening that people are chasing me” – NH Sport / Stephan Brandhorst
living rooms
During the World Indoor Championships, Klaver will be in action five times if everything goes according to plan. Three times in the 400 meters (series, semi-final and final) and twice during the 4×400 meter relay (series and final). “We are going for gold,” says Klaver about the 4×400, which she did with Femke Bol and Lisanne de Witte, among others. Last year the women won gold at the European Indoor Championships. “You notice in living rooms that athletics is coming to life.”
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Klaver: “Athletics are alive again in living rooms” – NH Sport / Stephan Brandhorst
The World Indoor Championships are in Belgrade (Serbia) from Friday to Sunday. In the run-up to the athletics tournament, NH Sport publishes a story with one of the participating athletes every day.
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