When and how did you get into climbing? What keeps you interested? What fascinates you?
I started climbing in the gym in 2008 and was immediately so excited that I spent every second day there. Among other things, I was always thrilled that you can become very good at climbing if you practice hard, without the need of much money. I love the variety of movements and the interesting mix of strength and technique. Especially on the rocks, there are often many different solutions for a climbing passage and I love to puzzle so long, until I have found an individual solution to the problem.
Who were your childhood heroes?
Pippi Langstrumpf (it's a German children book character). Since she is able to carry a horse, I assume that she is perfectly able to climb the 10 grade routes too.
A bit more climbing-specific I see Beth Rodden as a model on the rock, because her smile and her pioneer spirit inspired me to climb. When it comes to bouldering it is Juliane Wurm whom I admire, because of her extreme strong performance and she makes a very healthy mental and physical impression on me.
Do you consider yourself a role model now? Does it influence you at all that other people look up to you?
I am particularly happy when I can be a role model for other women and girls. I always try to support them when I can and often learn something from them in return.
What have been the most important milestones in your life so far, both in climbing and in everyday life? And did you recognize them immediately as such or only later on?
A friend has his hair cut very short and when I asked him why, he said he wanted to enter a lower weight class as he wanted to start the European Championship in Jiujitsu. I've known him for a long time and also well, which is why I wondered why he had never told me about doing a sport at a high level. He answered, "Why should I tell that? I am doing it for myself!" This is a healthy attitude that I will always try to keep as an example.
What were your greatest failures / setbacks / injuries? How did you cope with them and how did you come back from them?
Ever since I started climbing, I've always been aiming to climb a 10 at some point. Three years later, on the last day of my vacation, when I fell out of the very easy exit area of my first 10, I roared the whole valley together. I was in a bad mood all day. Fortunately, a few weeks later in a spontaneous holiday, I was able to finish it. Since then, I have never been so annoyed again while climbing and I do not intend to do that either. Luckily I have not had any major injuries and setbacks so far.
What is your favourite climbing-related story / experience?
My first holiday in the Franconian Switzerland was the most beautiful climbing experience I had, since it was my first self-organized holiday in nature with my friends and a lot of rockst o climb. This was a start of a completely new life quality for me.