German fencer Larissa Eifler has won a gold medal in the sabre competition at the World Championships in Hong Kong following a career break.
The 27-year-old from Alsfeld in Vogelsberg went through difficult times after missing out on qualification for the Paris Olympic Games due to an appendix operation. Speaking on the Sportstunde podcast, Eifler said she regularly broke down and cried in her car after training sessions.
She decided to take a break from fencing, which she later described as probably the best thing that could have happened to her. Eifler sought support from a sports psychologist, emphasizing that asking for help was a sign of strength rather than weakness.
Looking ahead to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, Eifler said she intends to approach qualification with more composure. She added that when she enjoys fencing and trusts herself, positive results usually follow on their own.
