Alica Schmidt has over three million followers on Instagram and has met many a celebrity – although the track and field athlete has not made such a big impression with sporting successes.
Alica Schmidt still has to wait for the race against Neymar. Unlike Mats Hummels, Brazil’s football superstar has not yet accepted the challenge of a duel on the tartan track. Like PSG professional Neymar, Alica Schmidt also has little time.
For the 400-meter runner from Berlin, the focus is now on the World Athletics Championships in the USA. After the World Championships from July 15th to 24th in Eugene, the 23-year-old is also important for the German team at the home European Championships from August 15th in Munich.
million followers
Alica Schmidt is not the fastest German runner over the stadium round. This is Corinna Schwab, who was two seconds faster in the semi-finals of the German championships in Berlin at the end of June than the local hero, who then placed third in the final. But when it comes to the number of fans, Alica Schmidt is far ahead, very far in fact. She had 3.1 million followers on Instagram at the beginning of July – long jump Olympic champion and world champion Malaika Mihambo brought it to 146,000, although she feels much more present in public perception in this country than Alica Schmidt.
The SCC Berlin runner started posting vacation photos a few years ago and never dreamed of one day having so many fans. Sponsors have also taken notice. But Schmidt emphasizes that she does not see herself as an influencer. “I’m an athlete and I’m happy that so many people are following me,” she told the German Press Agency on the sidelines of the national championships in the Olympic Stadium.
PR appointments and TV appearances
Things like meeting Neymar at a PR appointment or appearing on TV with Kai Pflaume are “moments and experiences that I really appreciate,” Schmidt told the “Bild”. After being asked to do a sprint duel, Neymar “did a little backtrack,” she reported to Sport1. Despite social media, sponsors and PR, Schmidt emphasizes: “First and foremost, I live and breathe athletics and am at home on my training ground.”
German athletics is wrongly associated with the image that it is outdated, emphasized Idriss Gonschinska, head of the association, recently. The DLV wants to reach young people more via digital media and work with moving images. “People are interested in people’s stories,” Gonschinska explained.
Alica Schmidt demonstrates how this works. She not only puts herself in the limelight, but also lets her followers participate. In the most recent video blog on YouTube, she took viewers on a 15-minute journey to the German championships at the beginning of July and reported frankly on the details of her runs. The fans are very close and expressly encouraged to submit their comments. On Instagram, she always answers herself, said Schmidt.
However, all the activities are not easy to coordinate. Her manager supports her and her boyfriend takes the photos. “It’s not always easy, it definitely requires good time management,” explained the runner. “But you just have to set priorities, and for me it’s definitely sport. Everything else comes afterwards.”
Third at the German Championships
Schmidt was not entirely satisfied with her 52.42 seconds in the German championship final. “I would have liked to have run a bit faster,” she said despite being satisfied with third place and her medal.
The German Athletics Association nominated her for the World Championships in Eugene in the US west coast state of Oregon last Friday. In addition to the 4×400 meter relay at the end of the competition, there is also a mixed relay right at the start. “I’ve ripped my butt off over the past few months and I’m so happy that the hard work is paying off,” Schmidt wrote on Instagram full of anticipation and announced Wednesday’s departure for the United States, where it first goes to Santa Barbara in California. “I’m super excited about the experience,” she said in her recent video blog.
The world title fights are currently taking precedence over everything else. The following home EM in Munich is equally important and of course particularly nice. There the chances of another medal for Alica Schmidt shouldn’t be that bad. The next video blog may come from the World Cup.
Source: Stern

I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.