The “Golden Girls” are history: Because of continuing health problems, the beach volley Olympic champion Kira walkenhorst. The one who takes your place at the side of Laura Ludwig, is already determined.
Walkenhorst (R) and Ludwig after the world Cup victory in 2017
They provided one of the from the German point of view memorable moments of the Olympic summer games in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro In a thrilling final in the cauldron of the beach volleyball stadium on Copacabana beach Kira walkenhorst and Laura Ludwig won against the Brazilians Agatha Bednarczuk and Barbara Seixas sensational Gold. Sharing the success story of the “Golden Girls” after six years in the past. Walkenhorst draws because of physical problems the rip cord and finished your career.
After the Olympic victory world title
“I would like nothing better than to with Laura, and my great Team there to continue where we left off in 2017,” said the 28-Year-old. “Maybe I pushed the warning signals of my body in the last few years, very much in the Background. Anyway, my body is not allowing me to power sports.” Ludwig and Walkenhorst had not triumphed only at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, but also in 2017 at the world Championships in Vienna and on the World Tour. Germany’s sports journalists had chosen the “Golden Girls” in two years, “team of the year”.
With its world-class block Walkenhorst (left) brought her opponents to despair
Ludwig plays in the future with Ex-hall star Kozuch
But now the suffering for Walkenhorst was too big. Persistent problems in the shoulder, the Ribs and the hip forced her to resign. “Everything other than Laura to find a partner that your goals can be reached, seemed to me to be unfair,” said Walkenhorst. The 32-year-old Ludwig wants to go now with the peers previous hall star Margareta Kozuch on medal hunting. Kozuch was previously with Kala Borger, a Beach-Duo.
“A real Fighter”
“It is also difficult for me to accept the idea that there will never again be the Duo of Ludwig-walkenhorst in beach volleyball. But I understand, Kira – we discussed the Situation together for the whole Team,” said Ludwig. She is looking forward, but also to the cooperation with your new partner Kozuch: “Maggie brings with him everything you need. She is incredibly athletic, has an insane ball control and is a real Fighter.” After her baby break, Ludwig wanted to actually celebrate in February in Fort Lauderdale in the US state of Florida made their Comeback on the Beach Volleyball world tour. The event has been cancelled, now expected to be the tournament of 24. to 28. April in Xiamen, China for the debut with Kozuch.
Time for the family
Walkenhorst want to devote even more time family time. In October of 2018, your wife, Maria, triplets brought to the world. The beach volleyball is to remain the Olympic champion, also after the career. “Currently, the first interviews with TV stations to run,” said Walkenhorst. “The first sponsors and long time partners have indicated to me already that you can imagine a co-operation very well.”
Golden Moment: The “Golden Girls” after the Olympic victory in 2016
DVV remains in Olympic target
The German Volleyball Federation, praised the merits of the exception-block player Walkenhorst. “It was a short shock. But it brings relatively little to bring a battered body to the limit,” said Niclas Hildebrand, Director of sports Beach on the German Volleyball Federation, the German press Agency. For the 2020 Olympic games in Tokyo, the DVV is aiming for a medal and wants to bring another Beach-Team of the best Five. “Whether these are still realistic goals, you have to see,” said Hildebrand. “I’m not Worried that we can continue to sniff the top of the world. But it’s now unsafe.”