Pole vaulter Bo Kanda Lita Baehre is one of the few German hopefuls for the World Cup – and has that certain extra.
Bo Kanda Lita Baehre likes to attract attention, he “loves” the show. Numerous tattoos, mirrored sunglasses, with his headscarf he almost looks a bit like a pirate, likes to show a little dance for the fans.
“It’s just great to tell people that they’re having fun, that I’m having fun with them, that it’s not going to be a boring competition,” says the pole vaulter, who is having so much fun at the moment.
The 23-year-old managed 5.90 m at the German championships. As number three in the world, Lita Baehre is one of the few hopefuls for the upcoming World Championships in Eugene/USA (July 15th to 24th). “I’m not trying to limit myself,” he said.
Lita Baehre finished fourth at the World Championships in 2019, but now he is “definitely closer to being involved at the front,” he said: “In championships, the medals are the most important thing, people don’t remember anything else.”
The fact that world record holder Armand Duplantis from Sweden is in a different league encourages the man with the unusual name (“Bo is of Scandinavian origin, my mother thought he was so beautiful. She is German and her last name is Baehre. Kanda and Lita come from my father, who comes from the Congo”) rather.
The old-fashioned track and field industry is longing for someone like Lita Baehre. His performance is right, he wants more, and he has that certain something extra. “He’s authentic and doesn’t pretend, that brings new flair to our sport,” said head national coach Annett Stein about the model athlete, who likes to have fun.