Kira Walkenhorst
| Kira Walkenhorst | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Nationality | Germany | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 18 November 1990 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hometown | Essen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 184 cm (6 ft 0 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 75 kg (165 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Honours
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Kira Katarina Walkenhorst (born 18 November 1990) is a German beach volleyball player, playing as a blocker.[1] She has an older brother Alexander Walkenhorst who is a professional beach volleyball player [2] and a younger sister Pia Walkenhorst who also plays beach volleyball.
Kira won the gold medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro together with her teammate Laura Ludwig.[3] She also won bronze medals at the 2013 and 2014 European Beach Volleyball Championships and gold medals at the 2015 and 2016 Beach ECH alongside her teammate Laura Ludwig.[4]
Professional career
Rio de Janeiro 2016
Kira Walkenhorst participated in the 2016 summer Olympics in Rio together with her teammate Laura Ludwig. They won the Gold medal in the final match against the Brazilian duo Ágatha Bednarczuk and Bárbara Seixas in straight sets of 21-18 21-14 following their victory against the Brazilian duo Larissa França and Talita Antunes in the semi-finals.[5]
World tour 2016
Kira competed in the World Tour Finals in Toronto. With teammate Laura they finished 3rd (Last) in Pool-B with 2 losses In the quarter final match against Ross and Walsh they won in 3 sets of (21-18, 19-21, 15-11), advancing to the semi final against Larissa and Talita of Brazil.[6]
Winning against Brazil in straight sets of (21-19, 21-19)[7] the pair advance to the gold medal match. Another GOLD medal for the Olympic winners in straight sets of (21-18, 21-16)[8] against the Swiss pair of Zumkehr and Heidrich
2017 Season
Kira opened the 2017 season at Fort Lauderdale Major with temporary partner Julia Großner while her regular partner Laura Ludwig recovered from a shoulder injury.[9] They won two out of their three pool play matches to make it through to the Final 24. Here they lost 0:2 to Meppelink / Van Gestel (NED) so finished the tournament in 17th position.[10]
Personal life
In late 2016 Walkenhorst came out as a lesbian sportswoman.[11] Then in October 2017 she married her long time girlfriend and trainer Maria Kleefisch.[12]
References
- ↑ Dorfman, Blake (August 6, 2016). "The Toughest Challenges for Kerri Walsh Jennings, April Ross in Rio". Bleacher Report. Retrieved August 19, 2018.
- ↑ "FIVB - Beach Volleyball". www.fivb.org. Retrieved 2016-12-17.
- ↑ "FIVB - Beach Volleyball". www.fivb.org. Retrieved 2016-12-17.
- ↑ FIVB Player Players Database
- ↑ Ludwig-Walkenhorst.com/Kira
- ↑ Elimination Matches
- ↑ Germans not thinking about the money
- ↑ German duo caps off memorable beach volleyball season in Toronto
- ↑ RuhrNachrichten.de (German)
- ↑ Ludwig/Walkenhorst - Fort Lauderdale Major 2017
- ↑ Thüringer Allgemeine: Das alles gehört zu mir (German)
- ↑ https://www.abendblatt.de/sport/article212402989/Olympiasiegerin-Kira-Walkenhorst-ist-unter-der-Haube.html
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kira Walkenhorst. |
- Ludwig-Walkenhorst.com (English)
- Kira Walkenhorst at the FIVB
| Sporting positions | ||
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Preceded by Talita Antunes (BRA) |
Women's FIVB Beach World Tour Winner alongside  2016 |
Succeeded by Talita Antunes (BRA) |
| Awards | ||
Preceded by |
Women's FIVB World Tour "Best Blocker" 2016 |
Succeeded by |
Preceded by |
Women's FIVB World Tour "Best Hitter" 2017 |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
Preceded by |
Women's FIVB World Tour "Most Improved" 2013 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by |
Women's FIVB World Tour "Top Rookie" 2013 |
Succeeded by |
| Preceded by Talita Antunes (BRA) |
Women's FIVB World Tour "Team of the Year" alongside 2016 |
Succeeded by Talita Antunes (BRA) |
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| Men |
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Authority control  |
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