Kira Walkenhorst on comeback trail for Paris 2024
The Rio 2016 Olympic champion quit in 2019 due to injury but is now on a tentative journey towards another Olympic Games, starting with her first international competition in five years at the European Championships.
Beach Volleyball
‘Retired', ‘paused’, ‘break’ – whatever you call Kira Walkenhorst's hiatus from beach volleyball, the Rio 2016 Olympic champion is back.
The 31-year-old mother of three returns to the international stage five years after stepping away from the sport due to injury having accepted a wildcard for her home European Championships starting on Monday (15 August).
She's formed a one-off pairing with former German national indoor volleyball team star Louisa Lippmann at the start of a potential run to Paris 2024 and a bid for another Olympic medal.
Build up to Rio 2016
Walkenhorst’s first major international breakthrough was bronze at the European Championships in Austria in 2013 alongside Laura Ludwig, the partner with whom she'd go on to win gold in Rio.
The following year saw a repeat of the feat, this time in Cagliari, Italy. And in 2015, the pair became European champions in Klagenfurt, Austria.
They then retained that title just one month before their Olympic assignment in Brazil.
There, the pair stunned the hosts by beating home favourites Agatha Bednarczuk and Bárbara Seixas de Freitas in the gold-medal match on the sands of Copacabana beach.
By claiming the title in straight sets, the duo became the first European women’s team to win any Olympic medal in beach volleyball, let alone gold.
Heart vs head
On the court, the winning streak continued with a gold medal at the 2017 World Championships.
A year later, Walkenhorst became a mother when her wife and trainer, Maria Kleefisch, gave birth to triplets.
However, debilitating pain in her ribs, hips and shoulders impacted Walkenhorst’s life to such an extent that by 2019 she felt her only option was to retire.
“At the end of the day it was a really tough time, especially since I have always loved playing sports,” she told Olympics.com. “But then to reach a point where your body draws the line and tells you it can’t go on anymore, that you can’t even do simple daily routines without being in pain, that you can’t find a comfortable sleeping position without pain, that was a really tough moment.
“Your heart wanted to continue playing but your mind eventually said, ‘This is going in the wrong direction, it can’t continue like this’.”
Time out for Walkenhorst
That break meant Walkenhorst was able to spend quality time with her family which gave her a different perspective on her sport.
“My family is number one. If there is any problem, it will definitely come first. But beach volleyball is still number two, and after my short break when I thought that was it, I want to be competitive again and improve.”
Now the children are in daycare, there is more time to focus on herself and training again.
She told German regional publication RP Online, "That has allowed me to take better care of my body, especially in the lead-up to this season. It was not really ideal before that as a professional athlete, hustling between playground, preparing meals and other things. But now I have more time for myself..
She does, however, take the children with her whenever she can.
Kira Walkenhorst on the comeback trail
Finding a doctor who could help her ailing body gave Walkenhorst hope of at least participating in her beloved sport again, but the progression has been such that a second Olympic Games is possible.
She made her comeback in 2020, finishing fifth at the German Championships with new partner Anna-Lena Grüne.
In 2021, the year of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, Walkenhorst only participated in domestic tournaments in order to test out her form.
Following those tentative steps, 2022 sees things gathering pace.
Grüne and Walkenhorst won two events in July on the German Beach Tour, in Hamburg and Bremen, but in Munich she will play with Louisa Lippmann.
The 27-year-old has only played beach volleyball for about a year, and this is a one-off with Lippmann teaming up with Walkenhorst's former partner Ludwig when she makes her return from giving birth to her second child.
“I am very happy that I am able to play these European Championships,” said Walkenhorst after confirmation of her entry. “Such an event at home is extra special, and to help Louisa make her first steps in the sand is also very exciting.”
So baby steps for Walkenhorst, with Munich providing the latest stepping stone toward a potential shot at another Olympic Games in two years time.
For more information on Munich 2022, click here.