Gina Luckenkemper already has two European senior medals to her name and she is looking to double that tally at the Berlin 2018 European Athletics Championships.
Luckenkemper burst onto the sprinting scene three years ago when she won the 200m title at the European U20 Championships in Eskilstuna, Sweden in a wind-aided 22.41. It was in the same event she won a bronze medal the following year at the European Championships in Amsterdam at the age of 19 but she has put more of a focus on the 100m in recent seasons.
“I came here with goals to win two medals: one in the individual 100m event and one in the 4x100m relay,” said Luckenkemper who ran her lifetime best of 10.95 at the IAAF World Championships in London last summer. “It’s going to be tough, but you have to have goals otherwise you won’t be a great athlete.”
Luckenkemper is no under illusion of the task at hand as she will come up against Great Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith and Switzerland’s Mujinga Kambundji who have both broken through the 11 second-barrier this season. Reigning champion Dafne Schippers is also looking for a hat-trick of titles which would match East Germany’s Marlies Gohr from 1978 to 1986.
Luckenkemper is also expected to cross paths with the aforementioned trio in the 4x100m relay. There will be high expectations on the German team - who beat the Jamaicans at the IAAF World Relays last year - but Luckenkemper is relaxed heading into the championships.
“I don’t think there is so much pressure on me. I have really enjoyed running in Berlin over the past few years and I am happy to be here running at the European Championships.
“It’s pretty special for me to be running at an international championship in my home stadium. I am really looking forward to the competition,” she said.
At 28, it might be a misnomer to say that David Storl is the veteran of the German team but he will step into the Olympic Stadium again nine years after making his senior debut at the IAAF World Championships in Berlin - assuming he makes is through qualifying which will be held tomorrow evening on the European Mile.
“When I look back at the 2009 Championships competition for me, I went out in qualifying after throwing 19 metres. You have to become stronger, maybe you can have a second chance like me to compete in Berlin. You have to take those chances,” said Storl, who has since improved his PB to 22.20m and has a season’s best of 21.62m.
That season’s best puts him second on the 2018 European outdoor lists behind Michal Haratyk from Poland, the only European thrower to surpass the 22m-line outdoors this year with 22.08m. Storl defeated Haratyk for the title in Amsterdam two years ago and the German, who also has two world titles on his resume, is looking for his fourth successive European outdoor title.
“I’m looking forward to a great competition in front of my home supporters. I have memories of how great the atmosphere was in Berlin in 2009. I try to enjoy it, try to use the pressure to go for gold,” he said.
While Luckenkemper and Storl will be fully focused on their respective events next week, they will be trying to watch as much of the action as they can.
“The most spectacular competition will be the men’s javelin,” stated Storl. “All the guys for Germany have managed amazing competitions this year, throwing over 92 metres, so I’m looking forward to this competition. I want to see some big throws.”
Luckenkemper said: “I would also like to say the javelin, but also the men’s discus throw with Robert Harting, his brother Christoph and Daniel Jasinski – it’s going to be a great competition.
“It’s Robert’s last international competition for Germany. The fact that he has the possibility to throw once again for Germany in Berlin, in his home stadium where it all began for him in 2009 - I think this is pretty special for him.”