Claudia Pechstein is still doing her rounds. At the age of 51, the Berliner starts at the single-distance world championship for speed skaters. But that should not be the end of her career for a long time. The Berliner is aiming for the 2026 Winter Olympics. If everything works out.
Claudia Pechstein is no longer about winning. Your umpteenth trip to Heerenveen is under different circumstances. In the sold-out Thialf, Europe’s loudest speed skating stadium, fights will start on Thursday for medals and best times at the individual distance World Championships. Pechstein, on the other hand, just wants to savor the moment – at the age of 51, priorities have shifted.
“Since I won’t be running for medals anymore, I want to enjoy the atmosphere above all, despite all my ambition,” said the five-time Olympic champion of “Sport Bild”. She is “very proud” to have qualified for a field of participants “in which the others could be my daughters in terms of age. At 51, I should actually be last in all races.”
This is not even to be expected. On Saturday and Sunday, Pechstein will compete in the mass start and over 5000 meters on the ice. In the mass start, the final is the goal. For the 21st time, the Berliner is taking part in a single-distance world championship, having already been there at the premiere in 1996. Since then she has won 30 medals in the prestigious competition, five times it was enough for gold.
Pechstein still hasn’t had enough of the eternal run on the ice. “I don’t give a damn about the envious people who say, ‘She has to resign long ago’. I’m the only one who decides that,” said Pechstein. When it will be so far, she leaves open.
She doesn’t even rule out a start at the Olympic Winter Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo – it would be her ninth. “But in 2026 I’ll be three years older again – and I won’t get any faster, at most more stamina,” said record Olympian Pechstein: “That’s why it doesn’t make sense to plan so far in advance. But you should never say never.”