German athletics star Alica Schmidt has officially announced her decision to shift from the 400m to the 800m, aiming to compete against the world’s top middle-distance runners, including Mary Moraa, Keely Hodgkinson, and Athing Mu.
Following her debut at the Paris Olympic Games and a successful season that included performances at the European Championships in Rome and the World Athletics Relays in the Bahamas, Schmidt is ready to embrace the challenge of the two-lap race.
After her participation in the 4x400m mixed relay at the Paris Olympics, Schmidt shared her plans with her fans, highlighting her excitement for a fresh start. “It’s been quite a year,” she wrote on Instagram.
“From the world relays in the Bahamas, where we qualified the mixed relay for the Olympics, to the European Championships in Rome and, of course, THE OLYMPICS,” she reflected. The season’s highlights, she noted, have motivated her to take on new distances, adding that she tried 600m and 800m races and enjoyed pushing beyond her comfort zone.
Schmidt’s sights are set on competing in high-altitude 800m training camps with an international group of elite middle-distance athletes, preparing herself for the endurance-focused challenge.
Although her primary focus will shift to the 800m, Schmidt plans to continue competing in the 400m as well, balancing her passion for both races by integrating more endurance elements into her training regimen.
Schmidt’s transition to the 800m sets her up for intense competition against dominant figures like Moraa, the reigning world champion, Mu, the former world champion, and Hodgkinson, the reigning Olympic silver medalist. As these champions continue to set records and push boundaries, Schmidt’s entry into the 800m will add fresh energy and talent to the event.
“I’m super excited for this new challenge and what it will bring,” Schmidt concluded. Her fans eagerly await her debut in the 800m, as her presence promises to add another exciting dimension to the fiercely competitive race.
With a strong foundation in the 400m and a growing focus on endurance, Schmidt’s journey into the world of middle-distance running could redefine her athletic career.
