Gina Lückenkemper is a German track and field athlete who competes in the sprints. She won gold in the 200 metres at the 2015 European Junior Championships. She took part in the 100 metres at the 2015 and 2017 World Championships.
Medal record
Representing Germany
European Championships
| Silver medal | Second place 2018 Berlin | 100 m |
| Bronze medal – Third place | 2018 Berlin | 4 x 100 m relay |
| Bronze medal – Third place | 2016 Amsterdam | 200 m |
| Bronze medal – Third place | 2016 Amsterdam | 4 x 100 m relay |
- First German under 11 seconds in 26 years in 100 m
- WM – semi-finalist 100m & WM – fourth (2017)
- Olympia – semi-finalist 200m & Olympia – fourth over 4 x 100m (2016)
- EM – Vice European Champion over 100m (2018)
- EM – Bronze over 4 x 100m (2018)
- EM – Bronze over 200m & 4 x 100m (2016)
- German champion over 100m (2018)
- German champion over 100m & 60m (2017)
- German champion over 200m (2016)
Gina Lückenkemper has risen to the top of the most popular athletes in Germany. She stayed several times under eleven seconds over 100 m. 10.95 is strong, but she believes: There is more! She is a cool, ambitious, carefree and quick in every way. She speaks fast, likes to drive fast, and sprints quickly. She wouldn’t avoid eating a contest either: “I can take part and I wouldn’t be last.” Her great strength is her looseness. “I am a honey cake horse,” she says herself. The powerful 22-year-old has no problems presenting her on the big stage. Others tense up, it grows from them. And do a little dance right before the start – without losing your focus. “She has a clear idea of everything in life,” says trainer Ulrich Kunst.
The Westphalian had already made people sit up and take notice in 2015. At the German U23 championships, she ran exactly to the World Cup norm in 11.25 seconds and was faster than any German under 20 years of age in this millennium. On her World Cup debut, she finished fourth in a strong run-up in 11.34 seconds. She finished fifth with the season. There was gold for the German hopeful, who is always in a good mood, at the U20 European Championship 2015 in Eskilstuna, Sweden, over 200 m – her favorite course because she likes to run the corners. However, she has been skipping the 200 m since 2017, concentrating on the 100 m. However, your goal is to run both routes at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. “We want to really attack again next year and have a plan how we can build it up in the long term” announced Lückenkemper at the beginning of August. She wanted to work intensively on this project with her trainer: “The 200 m definitely didn’t die with us. There is still no catch.”
Women Fitness President Ms. Namita Nayyar did a candid interview with Gina Lückenkemper Gold medalist 200 metres at the 2015 European Junior Championships and first German to run under 11 seconds in 26 years in 100 meters where she talks about her success story.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Your career went to an all-time high when you won gold in the 200 meters at the 2015 European Junior Championships. Share your emotions & challenges in achieving this goal?
Gina Lückenkemper:
To be honest. In my opinion winning gold at European juniors wasn’t my all-time high in my career. It was indeed a tremendous milestone in my career and I was caught up by emotions because my parents have been in Sweden for the competition and it was my first individual international medal. There were some tears but it were tears of pure happiness. My all-time high was winning the silver medal over the 100m at European championships 2018 in Berlin. Competing at
an international Championship in front of my home crowd and doing great in the competition running 10.98 in the semi-final and in the final as well, and winning a medal in the stadium that I love most, having my family and my boyfriend in the crowd.
Let me tell you. That silver felt like gold and I felt like a Rock star. I will forever remember that night and all the emotions. I still start crying seeing videos of that final. Preparing for Europeans 2018 I have been really open about my goals for the championship throughout the whole year. Also, with the press. This means that a lot of people, if not everybody, had expectations! In my discipline you only have one shot to do great. You have to be ready to perform at your highest level on day x. That is the biggest challenge. My mind-set in 2018 was on point. And so was my body. Looking back, I don’t know how I managed to deal with all the pressure mentally. My family and loved ones have been the best support, that’s for sure.
Full Interview is Continued on Next Page
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Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Were your eyes always set on becoming a professional athlete? Share two incidents from your childhood that led you to become a winner.
Gina Lückenkemper:
When I was kid, I never thought I’d ever become a professional athlete. I have always been fast, always raced the other kids in kindergarten. But I always wanted to become a teacher one day. What led me to become a winner was probably the fact that I have always (and still do) hated losing and that when I am passionate about something, I want to do it right and I start to be a perfectionist.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Introduce us to a day in your life, as an athlete and a woman full of aspirations.
Gina Lückenkemper:
A day in my life is always different. It depends on where I am. If I’m back home in Germany or if I’m in Florida with my coach and training group or if I am traveling for competition or other work-related appointments. Nevertheless, my day always starts with my alarm clock at 7:30 am. I am not really a morning person, so I stay in bed for at least 15 more minutes before I get up. I have breakfast and a cup of coffee at around 8am. I do take my time to start my day.
Read news online and check my social media. Then I head off to training and start training at around 10am (in Florida we usually start training at 9:30). I end my workout at around 2pm. When I finish working out first things first, I have lunch. After lunch I usually take a nap. I am a huge fan of naps. As soon as I am awake again I read my e-mails and get on calls for interviews or with my national coach for updates.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
What exercises comprise your fitness regime that you may like to share with our viewers? Five must-do morning rituals.
Gina Lückenkemper:
For me personally my most important and precious morning ritual is having my alarm clock set on a specific time every day. So even on weekends my alarm goes off at 7:30am. This makes getting up in the morning way easier for me, keep in mind that I am not a morning person, but I found a way to handle things. Other than that, I do not really have rituals in the morning.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Share the diet that you follow to remain healthy and physically fit? Five foods you absolutely love.
Gina Lückenkemper:
I do not follow a specific diet. I pay special attention to only buy organic food though. Better fuel right! Other than that, I try to keep things balanced. We cook a lot at home. I really love to snack vegetables in the evening, actually I always have! So, foods I absolutely love are Kohlrabi, red and yellow bell pepper and cucumber. If I have these three it’s going to be a great evening for me. I also do love to cook with Brussels sprouts or spinach.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Who has been your greatest influence and motivator in your career? Motivation quote you live by.
Gina Lückenkemper:
My greatest influence and motivator in my career has been the people that I surround myself with. My family and friends and especially my boyfriend. All of them are hardworking people who know they have to work to achieve their goals and I do love and respect that. I do love the quote coach Brauman likes to tell us during training. “You become like the five people you spend the most time with. Choose carefully.”
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
You’ve said and quote “The midday nap is essential for me. My head needs it.” How does the afternoon nap help you as an athlete?
Gina Lückenkemper:
LOL! Like I already said the midday nap is part of my everyday life. It is completely natural to feel tired during the day. A quick nap can increase productivity. I always feel refreshed after a nap. I usually nap between 15 and 30 minutes.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Five tips to work upon as an aspiring athlete.
Gina Lückenkemper:
- Surround yourself with greatness if you want to become great. Always keep in mind that you become like the 5 people that you spend the most time with, so choose carefully.
- Always have goals!
- Try to stay realistic.
- Never listen to people who want to see you fail.
- It’s all about mind-set.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Amidst the terror of COVID-19, one life lesson that you’ve learned?
Gina Lückenkemper:
To really enjoy the little things in life and how precious time with family and loved ones is.
Ms. Namita Nayyar:
Five fitness advice to achieve success in your goal.
Gina Lückenkemper:
- Keep your goals realistic.
- If possible, always try to visualize your goal, maybe a picture or drawing of your goal will help.
- Don’t be too frustrated by setbacks. It is totally normal and ok to not always be the greatest and perform at your best. Try to find motivation in this.
- Surround yourself with people who are trying to push you towards your greatness and who support you no matter what.
- Be patient and persistent.
Gina Lückenkemper Social Media Presence
- Instagram @ginalueckenkemper
- Facebook @GinaLueckenkemper
- Official Website https://www.gina-lueckenkemper.com/