Pauline Richter shines at U20 World Cup: Finale and strong appearance in Lima

Veröffentlicht:

Von:

Pauline Richter had her first big appearance at the U20 World Championships in Lima, Peru, and it was an event with mixed feelings. The only 17-year-old sprinter from the 1st LAV Rostock impressed with her performance in the 4 × 400-meter relay, where she was able to move into the final with her team. In the end, Germany secured sixth place, which was an exciting but also educational experience for the athlete and her team.

In the second lead, the German team performed strongly and secured direct entry into the final with a time of 3: 24.10 minutes. Richter had the task of starting quickly and keeping the lead. "I had received the announcement that I should put pressure on the first 200. It worked, so I was the first to run in and keep the position until the end, even if it got really hard," she reported after the lead on athletics.de.

The challenge in the final

However, the Situation in the final was more challenging than expected. Despite their strong performance in the lead, it was clear that the medal area would be difficult to reach. Pauline Richter again started as a second runner, but fought with the line -up during the run. "I tried to approach quickly. It didn't work quite as well because I couldn't get along optimally. In the end I tried to give everything. Luna (final runner Luna Fischer) did a really good job, she ran really blatant at the back," she explained after the competition. The combined time of 3: 24.52 minutes finally brought the team the sixth place.

The young athletes had to prove themselves in a strong field, which meant that the competition was very demanding and a medal area was ultimately out of reach. Nevertheless, participation in such a competition alone shows the first step in a promising career.

Hilke Thamke fights in several disciplines

While Pauline Richter and her team fought for a medal, her colleague, heptathlon Hilke Thamke from SC Neubrandenburg, was also in action. After the first competitions of the first day, she came to 3037 points and landed in twelve. However, she was dissatisfied with her performance: "It was definitely very difficult. I didn't get in well about the hurdles. It was very early and my legs were still very difficult." Her only positive experience was the high jump while she experienced the other disciplines as challenging.

There were exciting moments, especially when it comes to shot put. A faulty measurement almost spoiled its result, but after a protest by the German Athletics Association (DLV), a shock of 11.15 meters was finally scored. "The only thing that was okay was the high jump. I have to tick off everything else and see what's going on tomorrow," said Thamke. In the further course of the championships, the long jump, javelin throw and the final run over 800 meters are still available.

In addition, 400-meter runner Johanna Martin will intervene. The team from Germany will continue to fight for best performances, even if they were already facing challenges on the first day of the competition and gaining a lot of experience.

The U20 World Championships are the platform for many athletes to measure themselves at an international level and show their skills. Although the results do not always bring the desired medals, the experiences gained and the team spirit are invaluable for the development of young athletes in athletics.

The appearance of the German athletes in Lima is not only of great importance for the audience, but also of great importance for athletics itself. The U20 World Championships offer young talents a platform to prove themselves internationally and demonstrate their skills. For many athletes, this is the first step towards a professional career. Pauline Richter and Hilke Thamke not only represent their clubs, but also a new generation of competitive athletes who pursue great goals.

The U20 World Championships have a long tradition and have been taking place every two years since 1986. In recent years, the event has brought together numerous talented people from different countries, whereby the athletes have the opportunity to measure themselves on the international stage. The results of these championships can often give a foretaste of upcoming athletics stars, similar to how it was the case at previous world championships.

Past and current context

In order to better understand the current competition in Lima, it is helpful to take a look at the history of the U20 World Championships. Many athletes who later celebrated success at the Olympic Games or World Championships began their career in this age group. An example of this is Usain Bolt, who was part of the Jamaican relay in 2004 in the year of his lexicon appearance at the U20 World Championships in Italy. The comparison shows that the U20 World Cup is an important stage for athletes to get from talent to professionals.

The challenges with which athletes such as Pauline Richter and Hilke Thamke are confronted with both physical and mentally. The pressure situation of competing in an international environment requires not only sportiness, but also a strong mental attitude. It is not only the strict training, but also dealing with stress and expectations that can decide on success or failure.

Statistical insights into the services

According to the last statistics of the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF), the level of the U20 competitions has increased in recent years. The average distance between the best times of this age group and the world records has decreased. This indicates that the athletes are currently competing at a very high level of performance. In 2021 the best time in the 4 × 400 meter mixed relay competition at the U20 World Championships was 3: 19.58 minutes, which underlines the high demands on young athletes.

For the German athletes, the performance in Lima was a solid foundation on which they can build. The constant participation in international competitions and the opportunity to measure yourself against other nations will be crucial for the future development of young talents in athletics. With solid training and the necessary support, these athletes could have the potential to gain a foothold in the international elite.