Gesa Krause missed out on a medal at the Olympic Games. However, as a major winner, the steeplechase runner was already established before the starting gun.
It was only 15 months ago that the 32-year-old gave birth to her daughter Lola. While many parents find it hard enough to return to everyday life after the birth, Gesa Krause immediately set herself an ambitious goal: she wants to go to the Olympics in Paris, for her fourth time overall.
Krause has subordinated many things to this goal. And she has achieved it—without neglecting her daughter. Instead, the Olympic project is an organizational masterpiece of the family. Krause traveled to the training camp in Kenya with her child and husband—this was already the 23rd time.
Gesa Krause can feel like a winner
The runner from SV Silvesterlauf Trier did not hold back; on the contrary. Her ambition was too great to compete in the Olympic final after finishing seventh (2012 in London), sixth (2016 in Rio), and fifth (2021 in Tokyo) one more time. Krause fulfilled this dream, but not the one of winning a medal.
In the final, she finished in second-to-last place. And yet, Krause can consider herself a great winner, as she has moved and inspired many people with her positive attitude and enthusiasm despite all adversities. For instance, she had to pay for the trip to the training camp out of her own pocket.
Athletics Evening Session
Krause and Meyer helpless in the Steeplechase Final – Ingebrigtsen dethroned
Gesa Krause and Lea Meyer finished far behind in the 3,000-meter steeplechase final. Simon Batz achieved a notable success in long jump.
Krause is happy to have her family at the Olympics
This makes Krause’s appearance at the Games even more remarkable. A medal eluded her in the final. However, what stands out is the inspiring role that the 32-year-old played on her personal road to Paris.
Krause expressed disappointment after the race in an interview with Sportschau. “That wasn’t the happy ending I was hoping for,” she said and speculated that the heat of the preliminaries had cost her a lot of energy. “It’s a frustrating result,” said the vice-European champion with a shaky voice: “I just have to live with that now.”
And yet, what ultimately counts—even perhaps more than sporting success—is what she had already posted before the final on Instagram: “I am so infinitely happy and grateful to have my family here in Paris in the stadium.”
Fans can also feel happy and grateful: that they were able to witness Gesa Krause at the Olympic Games because she has made a remarkable return to the top ranks of the sport in record time.
Gesa Krause leaves the future open
And what comes next? It is entirely possible that this ultimately disappointing experience at Stade de France will remain as her last major steeplechase appearance. The 32-year-old left her future on the track open. While she confirmed that she will “not stop with the sport,” Krause remarked when asked about a possible transition to road racing: “I have hinted at that before, but I don’t know if that will happen right away.”
First, the former world championship bronze medalist wants to collect herself, “reorganize,” and set “new goals”: “And then I will decide whether I will continue with steeplechase next year or tackle a different distance.”