Katharina Bauer born in Wiesbaden, Germany. She is an athlete specializing in the pole vault. She represented her country at the 2019 World Championships in Doha. In addition, she twice reached the final at the European Indoor Championships. Her personal bests in the event are 4.65 meters outdoors (Beckum, Germany) and 4.60 meters indoors (Leverkusen 2015).
Having problems with abnormally fast heartbeat since her youth, she competes with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) in her chest. She is coached by Leszek Klima. She is also as a speaker on mindset and health communication. Despite suffering from heart disease and an implanted defibrillator, she swung as a world-class pole vaulter over heights that would make others dizzy and simply breathed away fears.
Women Fitness President Ms. Namita Nayyar catches up with Katharina Bauer is an exceptionally talented German pole vaulter with defibrillator, here she talks about her fitness routine, her diet, and her success story.
Namita Nayyar:
You were born in Wiesbaden, West Germany. Where did you have your early schooling? How and when did you choose Pole Vault as your sport of choice? This later propelled your career to the height where you have been leading women German Pole Vaulters. Tell us more about your professional journey of exceptional hard work, tenacity, and endurance?
Katharina Bauer:
I completed my school education in my hometown of Wiesbaden. After that, I began studying International Management, a distance learning course specifically for top athletes, and successfully completed my Bachelor of Arts in International Management. Sport has always been my passion. I started doing artistic gymnastics at an early age, then athletics at the same time, then a mix of gymnastics and athletics (German 6 -way competition) and finally, at the age of 13, I ended up doing pole vaulting.
The former world-class pole vaulter Carolin Hingst founded a pole vaulting group in Mainz, which I joined. At first I was doubtful, but my mum told me I should just give it a try and, sure enough, I felt a fire of passion blazing up inside me. This enthusiasm has never left me since then. I quickly became very good and jumped 1m higher than my training colleagues in my first competition, which is why the national coach Herbert Czingon took me into his group and led me to my first major success just 2 years later. German Vice Champion Youth with 4.00m. Another change followed to Balian Buschbaum and then I went to Leverkusen to Leszek Klima. I spent 10 years with him and he helped me to my personal best of 4.65m and to various international events and medals.
Professional sport requires a lot of discipline, stamina and endurance. Most spectators who see me jump in a successful competition cannot see behind the scenes. In the glow of success, everything seems like a fairytale, but that is not reality. That is why it is so important to develop a motivational strategy and to pursue it with ambition and full commitment. Tears, injuries and mental turmoil are all part of it. It is then up to you how you deal with it and what you are prepared to give your all for. Ultimately, it is the successful jump, the new personal best and the cheering of people that motivate you to exceed your own expectations. In my opinion, the biggest battle as an individual athlete is with yourself and it is nice to push your own limits and notice how you grow physically, mentally and spiritually through the challenges you face.
Namita Nayyar:
It is a dream for a pole vaulter to compete at European Indoor Championships. You twice reached the final at the European Indoor Championships. Tell us more about this spectacular achievement of yours?
Katharina Bauer:
It was absolutely amazing to take part in international championships. There is always something special in the air. Be it the gathering of the national team, the clothing, the atmosphere, the exchange with other international athletes and the unforgettable atmosphere. For me, the motto for both European Indoor Championships was: “Make the impossible possible”.
In 2013 in Gothenburg, I had a personal best of 4.45m and that was exactly the height required to reach the final. With so many high-class and experienced competitors, it was impossible for me to master this. However, I was able to surprise myself by going into the competition with inner calm and actually improving my personal best by 1 cm to 4.46m and securing my ticket for the final. In 2016 in Prague, it was a similar situation, only this time it was about the required height of 4.60m, which I had only jumped 2 weeks before. It was the toughest European Indoor Championship qualification that required a final height of 4.60m for several years and I mastered exactly that again. These are two very nice sporting events that I look back on with a smile.
Namita Nayyar:
You had Leszek Klima as your Coach who has been a catalyst that helped you pave the way to rise in your career with discipline and a never stopping attitude. Elaborate about his influence on your professional life?
Katharina Bauer:
Leszek and I are an inseparable team and I value him very much. Even as a teenager, it was always my dream to train with him and improve my performance. This dream came true in 2013 and lasted 10 years until the end of my career in 2023. What I particularly admire about him is that he finds and paves his own path to success for every athlete. He has a strong vision and is a good driver and motivator. Training demands everything from you and you need that one person who helps you to overcome your fears and grow beyond yourself.
The coach is the biggest reference person throughout your entire career and you see him more than your own family and friends. Daily training, every competition, every training camp. That’s why it’s so important to have a good basis of trust and to form a team. That’s exactly what I found in Leszek – a companion who never left my side and mastered every up and down with me. I am therefore infinitely grateful to him.
Full Interview is Continued on Next Page
This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President of womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied, or hosted in part or full anywhere without express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2025 Women Fitness
Namita Nayyar:
You are a world level professional pole vaulter, health expert, speaker and author. How do you manage such a remarkable multi-dimensional lifestyle?
Katharina Bauer:
I simply love being active in several areas and leading a diverse and varied life. Standing still and having just one job would not bring me any fulfillment. I need to be creative and am always looking for new challenges and projects. It is certainly the mindset of a competitive athlete that has shaped me so far and will pave the way for my future career.
Namita Nayyar:
Despite suffering from heart disease, with abnormally fast heartbeat since your youth and an subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (S-ICD) in your body, you have swung as a world-class pole vaulter over heights that would make others dizzy and simply breathed away fears. Tell us more about this exceptional achievement of yours and how you overcame this medical condition in your Pole Vaulting career.
Katharina Bauer:
I will never forget the date April 17th 2018. On that day my doctors told me that I needed an implanted defibrillator. Bad news that was difficult to accept at first. However, I did not give up hope and faith and did my best to be able to pole vault again after the operation. My perseverance was rewarded and I jumped back into the world elite with 4.55m.
When I qualified for the European and World Championships, I made sports history: The world’s first pole vaulter with an implanted defibrillator to take part in international championships. A huge success that encouraged me never to give up too early and to always believe in myself, no matter what other people say. As long as you have the passion for your sport, you should pursue it. Looking back, I am very proud of myself for having achieved this.
Namita Nayyar:
What exercises comprise your fitness regime or workout routine you may wish to share?
Katharina Bauer:
After my active career, I created my own “morning routine flow”:
- 10 min Meditation
- Mobilization
- 3x Sun Salutation
- 20 repetitions of back exercise
- 20 repetitions of abdominal exercise
- 20 repetitions of side abdominals
- 40 repetitions of butt exercises
Namita Nayyar:
You are a team member of “Little Stories Everywhere” where you are a speaker on mindset and health communication. Elaborate your role in this new endeavor.
Katharina Bauer:
The agency mainly looks after hotels and companies in the areas of PR and marketing. My role as a health communicator is to make my expertise in the field of health available to companies and to develop offers beyond that. Since I wrote the book “Yoga for a strong heart – promote heart health with the right breathing techniques, meditations and exercises” together with Tine Bielecki (founder of LSE), we have developed a common path towards health offers. Based on our book, we offer yoga retreats, which have so far taken place in the Baglioni Resort Maldives and the Alpenresort Schwarz Austria. Due to my heart condition, health is a top priority for me, which is why I have made it my mission to educate other people and to support and motivate them on their personal journey. That is why I am very pleased to be able to realize this mission with the “Little Stories Everywhere” agency.
Namita Nayyar:
How do you train your abs? One secret to your toned body.
Katharina Bauer:
Stabilization programs with your own body weight
Namita Nayyar:
Do you take a special diet or have a strict menu that you follow to remain healthy and physically fit?
Katharina Bauer:
At the beginning of my career, I worked with a nutritionist and was very strict. After that, I started working with Marcus Schall, the founder of Supergoodfood, who is still my mentor in the area of healthy eating. He equipped me with all the valuable super foods and gave me lots of tips.
I no longer have a special diet or too many deprivations. I think it’s more important to listen to your body’s signals and find out what’s good for you, how to strengthen your immune system and stay healthy in the long term.
Namita Nayyar:
Five foods you absolutely love and five you keep to a minimum.
Katharina Bauer:
I Love:
Pizza with Parma ham, rocket & parmesan
Spaghetti with Shrimp & Garlic
Salad variation with chicken breast
Healthy burger with avocado and beef
Strawberries
I don’t have any minimized dishes
Namita Nayyar:
You have glowing skin and gorgeous hair. Share with us your hair care and skincare routine.
Katharina Bauer:
I have a hair salon called “Frisierbar Leverkusen” as a cooperation partner, who takes excellent care of my hair. My favorite hair product is from Kerastase (shampoo and hair mask) and Rituals Shower Gel.
Namita Nayyar:
Five athletic leisure brands you love to wear.
Katharina Bauer:
Nike
Kismet Yoga Style
Levis & Co
Guess
Sustainable labels
Namita Nayyar:
Five travel destinations on your wish list.
Katharina Bauer:
West Coast USA
Bali
Caribbean
Mauritius
Lapland
Namita Nayyar:
During the Covid pandemic. Tell us more about a routine to remain fit in those challenging times?
Katharina Bauer:
At that time, the gyms were closed for 5 weeks. During that time, I was with my parents in Wiesbaden and I did training “a la Rocky Balboa”. This was training in the forest, in the park or at home. My trainer equipped me with various equipment and so I was able to train in alternative ways until the gyms opened again. It was a challenge, but it was also fun and you had to be creative.
Namita Nayyar:
What do you wish to say about the website Womenfitness.net and the message for its visitors?
Katharina Bauer:
Womenfitness.net is a wonderful website and platform for outstanding personalities who all have a story to tell. It is innovatively designed, inspiring and groundbreaking for other people. It is an important source of inspiration!
Namita Nayyar:
Advice and motivational words to the inspiring and budding Pole Vaulter girls, who all are your fans and shall like to know from you for their climb to the ladder of success in the field of participating in the sport of pole vault?
Katharina Bauer:
Pole vaulting is a challenging and spectacular sport. The feeling when you have cleared the height is incomparable. You have to be aware that the journey is the destination and that many challenges will arise. Injuries can also set you back and sometimes you feel like you want to give up.
But none of this is bad. If you feel this fire like I do, a path will always open up that will take you forward again. Trust in your abilities and never let anyone tell you that you are not strong enough! You can achieve anything you set your mind to!
Namita Nayyar:
In sports like Pole vaulting how you were able to overcome any physical or sports injury setbacks and what advice can you give to those in a similar situation?
Katharina Bauer:
The most important thing is to accept the situation as it is. You can’t change it, but you can change how you deal with it. Do I stay positive or negative? It’s always your own decision! Create a vision board with all your life goals, write a daily gratitude journal and become aware of your motivation strategies.
Finally, answer the question: Why is it worth sticking with it? What is it all worth? And you will follow your life vision with renewed strength.
Namita Nayyar:
Quote you live by.
Katharina Bauer:
“Smash your comfort zone“
Namita Nayyar:
Tell us about a day in the life of ‘Katharina Bauer´
Katharina Bauer:
Every day is different, but it begins with a morning yoga routine. Meditation, breathing exercises and sun salutations. This allows me to start the day calmly, organize my thoughts and go about my tasks with more energy. I then work as a freelancer in my home office, take care of my projects, do my errands and housework and do some exercise depending on the daily volume. In the evenings I look forward to spending time with my fiancé.
Namita Nayyar:
A message for your ardent Instagram admirers.
Katharina Bauer:
Believe in yourself, never let anyone tell you that you are not good enough, pursue your goals and dreams with great passion and trust that life has only the best in store for you.
This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President of womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied, or hosted in part or full anywhere without express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2025 Women Fitness