Konstanze Klosterhalfen

Konstanze "Koko" Klosterhalfen (born 18 February 1997) is a German middle- and long-distance runner. She is the 2019 World Championship bronze medallist and 2022 European champion in the 5000 metres, becoming the first German medalist of the event at the World Athletics Championships and the first German winner of the event at the European Athletics Championships. At the European Indoor Championships, Klosterhalfen won silver medals for the 1500 metres in 2017 and the 3000 metres in 2019 and 2023. She took four individual medals at the European Cross Country Championships. In February 2020, she set a European indoor record in the 5000 m with 14:30.79, the fourth fastest time ever.

In 2017, Klosterhalfen became the youngest female athlete to run 800 m under 2 minutes, 1500 m under 4 minutes and 5000 m under 15 minutes. She is the current German record holder for 1500 m (indoor), one mile (out and indoor), 2000 metres, 3000 m (out and indoor), 5000 m (out and indoor) and 10,000 metres. She won multiple national titles.

In October 2022, on her debut at the distance, Klosterhalfen won the Valencia Half Marathon, setting the fastest female non-African mark in history and becoming the first non-African winner of the event since 2003 (by origin).

Personal life

Konstanze Klosterhalfen was born to Bernd and Brigitta Klosterhalfen. She grew up in Königswinter-Bockeroth, her father is a lawyer and her mother a teacher. Her brothers are Nikolas (b. 1995) and Leonard (b. 1998). The older brother was also a talented runner but decided for association football. In 2009, "Niko" ran the 1000 metres in 2:50.37 minutes. The year before, he set the second fastest time (2:54.67) in the German U14 division. "Leo" plays handball at a high amateur level.