European Championships
Walker Feige cheers about EM bronze in the Munich rain
Saskia Feige (M) won bronze over 20 kilometers at the European Championships. photo
© Soeren Stache/dpa
Germany’s walkers are happy about the second EM medal. For Saskia Feige, bronze over 20 kilometers is the greatest international success. She can’t party for long.
Wrapped in a German flag, walker Saskia Feiger received congratulations from family, friends and coaches immediately after winning bronze at the European Championships.
“I’m just happy right now,” said the 25-year-old after her first major international success. “Of course that gives a lot of self-confidence. Now I’m even more looking forward to the next few years. I think there’s still more to come.” She set a personal best of 1:29:25 over 20 kilometers on a circuit in the heart of Munich.
Second walking medal for the DLV in Munich
After the three-time German champion had finished 16th at the European Championships four years ago, she won the first German European Championship medal over 20 kilometers since Melanie Seeger’s bronze in 2010. For the German walkers it is after silver by Christopher Linke over 35 kilometers the second medal at this European Championship. After this competition, the German Athletics Association, which was still disappointing at the World Championships in the USA, had a total of twelve podium finishes.
Feige took a deep breath and waved hesitantly at the audience when she received her bronze medal at the award ceremony. “I don’t think I could believe it yet. It was super exciting,” said the Leipzig native of her feelings. “I felt so supported, just hearing my name. The audience practically pushed me,” she described her approach in the Munich rain, which she really enjoyed. “It was great,” she said – and laughed again.
Feige was only beaten by the Greek Antigoni Ntrismpioti and the Polish Katarzyna Zdzieblo. In 1:29:03 hours it was Ntrismpioti’s second victory in these title fights after the success over 35 kilometers.
Leo Köpp ninth in the European Championship
Before Feige, Leo Köpp, who took part in the Berlin Olympics, celebrated ninth place among the men. “Those are tears of joy. I’m really happy. That’s phenomenal. It was really fun on home terrain,” said the 24-year-old after his season best of 1:21:36 hours. Like four years ago in Berlin, the Spaniard Álvaro Martín became European Champion on Saturday.
Karl Junghannß from Erfurt finished the competition in 20th place, Nils Brembach from Potsdam was disqualified. “The whole family, parents-in-law, wife, child. Everyone is there – I’m of course very sorry that I don’t have to go home with a result,” said the 29-year-old with tears in his eyes.
In contrast to the somewhat broader top in the men’s area, Feige is more on its own among women. “Unfortunately in Germany right now I’m one of the few women who’s leaving. I hope that there will be more in the years to come and that we can also put together a team,” said Feige, the EM bronze only could celebrate briefly. Because on Tuesday the exam for the first state exam in medical studies is already on the agenda.