When did you first realize that you jump further than everyone else?

Only in adolescence. I'm a late bloomer. As a child, I was very tall and fast, but I had slight coordination problems. Today, young talents jump around four meters at the age of twelve. I don't even know if I managed to do it at that age. I was underdeveloped there. It wasn't until I was a teenager that I jumped to the top of the world. I flew over seven meters for the first time when I was 16.

Your mother raised you and your three siblings alone after the death of your father. How did you get into competitive sports?

Access to all STERN PLUS content and articles from the print magazine

ad-free

Already registered?