25-year-old Konstanze Klosterhalfen is the new European Athletics Champion over 5,000 meters. The 25-year-old won the final of the European Championships in Munich’s Olympic Stadium in 14:50.47 minutes with a clear lead.
10,000m European Champion Yasemin Can from Turkey (14:56.91) and European Vice Champion Eilish McColgan from Great Britain (14:59.34) ran to silver and bronze. It was the first medal in the history of the European Athletics Championships over this distance for a German runner.
Unbelievable. That was one of the most beautiful runs of my life.
Corona infection, fourth place, then EM gold
Klosterhalfen, third at the 2019 World Cup over the 5,000 meters, was infected with the corona virus in June. Weakened by the illness, the German record holder was eliminated from the World Cup in Eugene.
At the European Championships in Munich, she came fourth over 10,000 meters and just missed out on a medal. She was only three and a half seconds above her German record.
5,000 meter start on the edge
The 5,000-meter start was then even on the brink. “We seriously considered running at all”, said Klosterhalfen. She seemed exhausted over the 10,000 meters. She was all the more overwhelmed after her sensational coup: “It was the last thing I expected. It’s wonderful, I have no words. I can’t believe it.”