Gina Lückenkemper finally wants to fulfill her dream of a large 100 m final at the World Athletics World Cup in Tokyo. The currently best German sprinter feels as good as ever. This also has a lot to do with US superstar Noah Lyles.
Noah Lyles has to laugh. “Oh yes, she really goes to sleep very early“, says the triple world champion of Budapest and you can see that Gina Lückenkemper is not only a teammate from his training group in Florida, but also a friend. And you would like to spend time with friends. For example, at a game evening at LYLES.
When Noah Lyles invites you to the game night
The problem: One of Lückenkemper’s favorite hobbies is sleeping. The light is out at 9 p.m. at the latest. And so the 28-year-old answers the question of whether she has already managed to follow one of Lyles ” invitations to the game night, with “unfortunately no“. The European double European champion from 2022 has to laugh just as warmly as the Olympic champion of Paris.
Much more important is the diving over “for the relay Olympic third of Paris”my job“. And that is: run fast. Sounds simple, but is very complicated.
“It is simply cool to be able to go to some of the best athletes on this planet – such as Noah Lyles – and ask them: ‘Can you explain to me how it feels or describe how it works for you.’ There is something very special“, said Lückenkemper.
It is a completely different mindset with which you are constantly surrounding yourself. I experience insane support from blatant athletes.
The walk to the USA into the group of coach Lance Brauman has brought Lückenkemper to another level. “When you look at videos how I ran a few years ago and how I run now, you can see how extremely the technology has changed and improved.“
She now wants to get this technology in a nutshell in Tokyo in order to finally reach a World Cup final after four semi-finals. “I’m ready. I hope it is the train too, “said Lückenkemper.” The last units were extremely good, everything is right now. We will see how far the whole thing goes.“
I currently feel very comfortable on the track. This is a very good sign for quick times.
The 100 m semifinals (1:20 p.m.) and the final (3:13 p.m.) in the Olympic Stadium rise on Sunday, the preliminaries are on Saturday (11:55 a.m., live at sportschau.de).
“Bock” on an “insane Challenge”
“It is an insane challenge“, says the Westfallin, who has 11.05 seconds as a season best and is therefore 24 of the registration list. With (too much) tailwind, but it ran under 11 seconds in June (10.93).
“It is difficult to assess what you have to go this year to get into such a final“, said Lückenkemper.But I feel like it, these are the best conditions.“
Gina Lückenkemper /Friederike Schürheck, Sportschau F – Inspirational Women from Sport, June 15, 2025 00:01 am
Season medal? “Must have us on the piece”
In addition to her individual start, Germany’s athlete in 2022 would also like to convince with the season. EM gold and World Cup bronze 2022 and most recently Olympic bronze 2024-The German quartet with its galosing figure Lückenkemper can also ride a medal again this time.
“No matter who will be on the track in the end – we will set an incredibly fast season. We have athletes who are burning for the season and are ready to give everything. I think you definitely have to have us on the note“, says Lückenkemper.
With a single final participation and a relay medal in her luggage, she might also turn a eye on her evening routine and drop by a lylous game night. In Tokyo it would be even easier than usual because all World Cup athletes are accommodated in the same.