European Atheltics (EAA) – News – Germany’s Silke Spiegelburg under the spotlight

As part of a series which puts 12 questions to leading German athletes, pole vaulter Silke Spiegelburg recently provided some personal answers for the German athletics federation website www.leichtathletik.de 

Spielgelburg, 25, won the silver medal at the 2010 European Athletics Championships as well as also finishing second at the 2009 and 2011 European Athletics Indoor Championships.

Q: What sort of personality do you have?
A: I have a positive attitude to anything I face.

Q: What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
A: Strengths: I’d say determination and tenacity. I also consider reliability and punctuality very important, and I’m good at those things.

Weaknesses: Perhaps that’s a better question to be put to my fellow human beings. One can certainly make life much better, but one thing is important to me; I would not, by my actions, want to hurt others but I get impatient with people and sometimes angry if people get in the way of my objectives.

Q: What's your secret passion?
A: Shopping and relaxing, a pleasant evening in a good restaurant or at home, (cooking or playing games).

Q: What could you never do without?
A: Sport and exercise, which have helped shape my life so far. I cannot imagine my life after being a professional sportswoman but I am quite curious about new challenges.

Q: What drives you mad?
A: Injustice.

Q: What personal qualities in other men/women do you find impressive?
A: When people fight fearlessly, independently and expertly for a good cause.

Q: What was the most moving thing that you have ever experienced?
A: The impressions and experiences at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens remain an unforgettable experience for me. I was young, inexperienced and had a huge mountain in front of me, which I was able to overcome and unexpectedly make the final. The experience of being there moved me a lot and was very noticable.

Q: What are your personal wishes for the future?
A: I grew up in a large family. I can not imagine a life without family security.
Health, work and a harmonious family are my wishes for the future.

Q: Where do you want to travel to that you haven’t been yet?
A: I have been able to travel to many countries because of my sport but I only know New Zealand from pictures and stories. I would also like to know also the Scandinavian countries even better.

Q: Who would you like to work out with?
A: I am an avid skier. Going skiing with Maria Riesch (Germany’s Winter Olympic Games and World Championships gold medallist), at least once, would certainly be lots of fun.

Q: What do you cook?
A: I do a very tasty chilli con carne.

Q: With which celebrity would you like to eat once a week?
A: I'm impressed by people with charisma, like Nelson Mandela. Having been to several training camps in South Africa, I saw what a great country it is but also that there is still a long road that this country has to go. Without a man like Nelson Mandela, who has lived and suffered for his convictions, and without any apparent bitterness towards his opponents, the existing development would never have been possible.

The interview in German can be found at this link.

https://www.leichtathletik.de/index.php?NavID=1&SiteID=28&NewsID=32011