The German team is preparing in Miyazaki for the athletics World Cup in Tokyo, which started on Saturday (September 13th). The sun is merciless in the subtropical south of Japan, but the team spirit of the DLV team is great. A hot day with Julian Weber, Gina Lückenkemper and Co.
Leo Köpp looks like he has just taken an intensive and refreshing bath in the sea on the Aoshina beach and forgotten to dry out when he trudges through the lobby of the DLV hotel in Miyazaki. “It’s brutal out there,” says Geher. His jersey of LG Nord Berlin is dripping wet.
Heat and sweat are a constant companion in the subtropical climate of the island of Kyushu in the south of Japan. Especially if you prepare for the World Cup start over 20 kilometers like Köpp in the stinging midday sun, which begins on the penultimate competition day (September 20) at 9.50 a.m. Tokyo local time.
Köpp is cooling off, while Christopher left the left and answered dryly. The best German Geber trained in the early morning, was one of the first athletes in the preparatory training camp of the DLV. “I am glad that I could be here early to adapt. The climate is murderous.”
Linke: “I’m ready to fight”
The Potsdam will open the competitions of the 20th World Athletics Championships on Saturday (September 13th, 1.00 a.m. CEST) with the 35-kilometer competition. “It will be a brutal thing,” said Linke. After all: A sun-cloud mix is announced for Tokyo. Possibly even some rain; What does not necessarily make it better, because then the oppressive humidity still increases and makes the road course a sauna.
Training in the sauna and with heat suit
“I am prepared for it and ready to fight,” explains the World Cup fifth from 2023 in Budapest over 20 and 35 kilometers. Left is aiming for the first World Cup medal of his successful career in Tokyo, but he sat down in the sauna at home (“half an hour at 90 degrees”) and trained with a heat suit. Everything for the dream of the World Cup precision metal. “A place in the top eight is realistic, but a medal is also not unrealistic.”
The pre-camp is beautiful. We have ideal conditions here and the Japanese are incredibly friendly and helpful. “
Many hope for a golden man from long jump queen Malaika Mihambo. This is still far away for them. Especially in Miyazaki, where the DLV-Tross stops for the fourth time. “From a feeling, you are in such an intermediate zone where you can get down again and it is not just about the competition,” says the two-time long jump world champion and Olympic champion of Tokyo 2021.
For Mihambo, this also includes a walk over the adjacent island of Aoshima, including a shrine tour or a Matcha latte in the café with the teammates.
In the afternoon at the training session in the nearby “Hinata Athletic Stadium”, Mihambo mainly withdraws into the weight room. Just like javelin throw Julian Weber. The area of the Miyazaki sports park is huge, comprises several stages and offers the DLV athletes “top conditions” (Weber).
“It is megaschön to be here with the whole team and to prepare yourself with everyone again in a targeted manner,” says the Mainz. “The vibe is really really good.”
“Everyone is looking forward to the World Cup and that it finally starts. We are ready.”
The colorful DLV driving in the somewhat aging but still well equipped Hinata-Stadion testifies to this. Sprinters, jumpers, runners and throwers covers their routines, flake, give themselves tips and support each other.
The relentless sun is on the withdrawal and Gina Lückenkemper is happy that after an intensive unit she can sit down with many starts. “The pre-camp is mega. Everyone is looking forward to the World Cup and that it finally starts. We are ready,” says the 100 m European champion of 2022, who wants to meet her long-cherished dream of a single final participation in Tokyo.
Lückenkemper and the thing with the Shin-leverß
The topic of heat is naturally none for the 28-year-old, as for many Sprinter. “I have that regularly in Florida and I prefer to have it too warm than too cold.” The Olympic third with the season was a bit surprised by Japan’s solar power: “Here you start to sweat on your shin – also a new experience,” says Lückenkemper with a laugh. Leo Köpp can only smile tired.