Angelina Köhler: Olympic hopeful about bullying, ADHD and Taylor Swift

Ms. Köhler, what do you think of Taylor Swift’s new album?
For me, every record she makes is an event. I’m a huge Swiftie and I’m deeply into the subject matter. I’m one of those people who search every new line for clues about hidden reckonings with Taylor’s former partners. My favorite song remains “Cruel Summer.” I heard it in February before the final in Doha.

There you became the first German world champion in the 100 meter butterfly in the pool in 15 years, since Britta Steffen in Rome in 2009. How did the song help you?
The song empowers me, it gives me security. It’s the last song I listen to before I take off my headphones and go to the pool. I know every line by heart and dance around the waiting area to it. It helps me to relax before a race.

Have you watched your competition in Doha again?
A few times. I always get so worked up, as if I were reliving it all again. There was this moment when the TV presenter held the microphone out to me after the awards ceremony. I was supposed to answer, but suddenly I lost it. I was shaking, my voice broke, tears came and everything fell away from me. Only then did I realize that I was world champion.

I wasn’t on the winning side for a long time”

Many athletes celebrate themselves after winning a title and paint the world in rose-tinted colors. You spoke in Doha about dark times in your life. Why?
It was always clear to me that I would use the stage if I ever had success. I don’t want to pretend that everything has always gone smoothly. It hasn’t. I haven’t been on the winning side for a long time.