From the very early years I loved sports. Most of the time I taught myself how to e.g. play tennis, play table tennis, basketball, handball, soccer, volleyball - you name it! I just watched the professionals on TV, looked at what they did really hard, and then went ahead outside on the street and practiced the same thing on myself...and taught my street playmates after.
Despite being full of energy, ambition and action, my passion number one during my early childhood was watching TV. My dad, being a doctor of sports & internal medicine, was afraid I would end up as a fat, unhealthy couch potato. As an education measurement he decided to to force me to run one loop around the neighborhood (less than 400m). Once a day. Or I would not be allowed to watch TV. I was 4 years old. Already thinking strategically, I decided to schedule my run of the day for the commercial break. Not wanting to miss any precious TV plot action, I ran as fast as I could... which was indeed pretty fast for a 4-year-old girl!
Initially I was introduced to the sport of Track & Field from a diverse, all-around-conditioned background. Competing in and training for all events there are in the sport, my strongest areas were the long jump, the ball throw (later javelin), and the longest distance available: the 800m. Skinny-built and a head shorter than everyone else, I started to concentrate on the middle and long distances at the age of 14. I ran my first 10-kilometer road race at a tender 8. Not even 12 years old, I broke 40 minutes for the 10 km for the first time. I was called to the junior national team in 1993 after having placed 2nd at the German b-junior championship in the 3000m. Seven German national youth champion titles followed in the process.
Speciality distances growing from the 800m over the 1500m to the 3000m and 5000m, my body height grew simultaneously. I was now the one almost a head taller than most. The geographic and competitive range of my racing grew just as much: from state level via national level to the international stage during my junior years in cross country, on the road, and on both indoor & outdoor track. You could call me a "Hans Dampf in allen Gassen" as a runner: everywhere to be found!
Initial letters from the American continent started flying into my mailbox in 1996, two years before my high school graduation. "Larissa Kleinmann, VfL Waiblingen, Germany". These were the words written on a letter that had the sender's address: Boston University Women's Track/Cross Country Head Coach. More letters from other track/xc head coaches of American univeristies reached me who all offered a full athletic scholarship: run for the univerity in the NCAA Division I system and get U.S. university education plus housing for free in return. Pretty good deal, I thought!
Having just won Team Gold at the European Junior Cross Country Championships where I carried the German national flag as the team captain, I packed up my belongings right after high school graduation in 1998 and headed out West to start my so-far most life-shaping adventure: Life as a student-athlete in the United States' National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) System!
My first U.S. destination was
Boston University. Jumping on the plane to Boston, I told myself "I
will just go over for a year; learn the language, get to know the
system, concentrate on running for a year but not give a sh* about
academics." So I chose a major that sounded most attractive: Physical
Therapy. Training increased in order to secure competitiveness in a
system where athletes hail from every corner of the world to enjoy free
education and professional athletic conditions. Necessary recovery from
training I gained while sleeping in my early-morning psychology class.
:p Running went very well in Boston and I loved what I
saw and experienced across the Big Pond. Hence, I decided to stay
longer. "One more year!" I told myself and chose to transfer
universities to be part of a top athletic program in the nation: The
University of Arkansas Razorbacks. "Wooooooo.... Pig Sooie! RAZORBACKS!!!" It did not
take me very long to learn the most important call in the U.S:'s
natural state of Arkansas: The Hogcall. I quickly felt like home in
Arkansas in its warm Razorback environment where athletes are treated
like kings and queens. And of course I was quick to tell myself: "ok, I
will stay here and take two university diplomas on the way!". :) I had the honor to be part of a great Ladyback
track/XC generation winning NCAA team trophies, SEC Triple Crowns, and
of course we could celebrate many individuals titles and honors of my
teammates and myself. Being an Arkansas Razorback engraved memories in
my mind and soul that I will treasure forever with a warm smile in my
face. It was an unforgettable experience that shaped and changed me as
a person, an athlete, and a student. I learned more about team spirit,
leadership, and motivation/enthusiasm (among many other things!) as a
Lady Razorback than ever before and ever after. I could write a book about my 5.5 years of juggling
university studies and athletics in the United States: one year in
Boston and 4.5 years in Arkansas. It was hard to leave the Razorbacks
in February of 2004, very hard... but life had to move on, a new
chapter had to be opened. My new chapter had the heading "ESC
Toulouse/France", an exchange semester abroad in France. This very
semester ultimately led me to my next life adventure: Cycling! Words cannot justify my American
adventure, so here you can find some visual impressions of my Life as a
Razorback in the