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Alica Schmidt, famously dubbed the "world's sexiest athlete," is stepping out of her comfort zone and taking her career in an exciting new direction.
The 26-year-old German track star, who represented her country in the mixed 4x400m relay at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, has announced a bold pivot: she's training to compete individually in the 800m, shifting her focus toward endurance events.
"It's been quite a year," Schmidt shared with her fans on Instagram, alongside snapshots from her standout performances at the Olympics and the European Championships in Rome. "From world relays in the Bahamas to European championships in Rome, and, of course, THE OLYMPICS-so many memories that will last forever."
Alica goes in search of new challenges
Schmidt, who also competed in the women's 4x400m relay, helped Team achieve a seventh-place finish in the mixed relay. The athlete revealed that her ion for pushing herself led to her decision to tackle the grueling 800m, a race that requires both speed and stamina.
"After Paris, I tried something new and ran an 800m and 600m-really enjoyed pushing out of my comfort zone," she explained. "Back in 2022, I decided that I wanted to give the 800m a shot after the Paris Olympics, so now I'm going for it. Next year, I'll be training with an international 800m group, learning from some of the best."
The journey began on Monday as Schmidt posted an Instagram Story video from an airport, announcing, "Off to the first training camp of the new season." Her travels took her to South Africa, where she'll undergo high-altitude training, a technique favored by elite athletes to build endurance.
Celebrating change
In addition to her athletic endeavors, Schmidt is a model and a major social media influencer, boasting 5.7 million Instagram followers. Recently, she celebrated her first Olympic experience with a new tattoo of the iconic Olympic rings on her upper thigh, marking the start of this next chapter.
With an ambitious training schedule, Schmidt is looking to conquer new challenges-and her fans couldn't be more excited. As she takes on the 800m alongside her 400m races, Alica Schmidt is ready to go the distance in every sense.