Original question from the Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet on the World Athletics Championships to Alica Schmidt (24), an athlete who is much more an Instagram and internet phenomenon than a star in the absolute top of athletics. Would she beat Norwegian phenom Erling Haaland in a 400m race, Schmidt’s favorite event? The German, who saw the title of ‘sexiest athlete in the world’ stuck to herself, didn’t have to think long about that.
At the age of eighteen, Schmidt was part of the silver 4 x 400 meters team at the European Under-20 Championships in 2017. A success she repeated slightly in 2019, with good times at indoor events and bronze at the European Under-23 Championship in the same event . But Schmidt did not yet really break through at the top. For example, she was there in 2021 at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, but she did not take action. In Budapest, she was mixed with Germany at this World Cup in the 4 x 400 meter relay for seventh place. The Belgians, with Robin Vanderbemden, Imke Vervaet, Jonathan Borlée and Camille Laus, finished fifth.
Schmidt with her German teammates as runner of the 4 x 400 m Mixed Relay. © REUTERS
Then her off-piste stats are much more striking. 4.3 million followers on Instagram and this year in the Forbes 30 under 30, a list of 30 notable people under the age of 30 in various industries published annually by the magazine. Already at the age of nineteen a nice contract with Puma.
Thanks to this collaboration with Puma, she even trained the football players of Borussia Dortmund, also sponsored by the sports giant, on some specific fitness and running sessions. Thomas Meunier can already talk about it, although captain Mats Hummels was the biggest ‘victim’. The German had to run a 400-meter race against the Berlin athlete and lost it ingloriously. “I really underestimated this,” said Hummels afterwards. Schmidt consoled him by saying it was “a hard effort for both of us.”
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She also received a proposal from Playboy, but Schmidt turned it down anyway. She thought the chance that she would be known definitively because of her looks or her sporting achievements was too great.
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But she likes a race against Haaland. As long as it’s on the 400 meters. Because in the 200 meters she considers it less likely to win. “In the 400 meters I think I can beat Haaland, in the 200 that would be a more difficult story,” said Schmidt when asked by Dagbladet. “But I would be happy with such a competition. When can it take place? I don’t know, I should ask him. I’m ready. Always.” Then she turned her face towards the camera: “So, Haaland, when you’re ready, let’s do this and see who’s the fastest!”
Schmidt after qualifying for the final of the 4 x 400 m final at the Mixed Relays. © REUTERS
In terms of absolute top speed, Haaland almost certainly has the upper hand. The express train annex power man, already good for an incredible 52 goals in 53 games at Man City, recorded a maximum speed of 36.2 kilometers per hour last season. But over 400 meters that is of course a different story. Schmidt has a best time of 52.18 in the 400 meters, which amounts to an average of 27.3 km / h.
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© REUTERS Schmidt has already given some guest training sessions to the football players of Borussia Dortmund. © rv
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