Lena Schöneborn
Lena Schöneborn (* April 11, 1986 in Troisdorf ) is a modern pentathlete from Germany. She won at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing the gold medal. With 20 medals at World and European Championships, she is also one of the most successful athletes in the history of this sport.
Sporting Vita
Schöneborn began her career in the swimming department of their home club SpVgg Lülsdorf - Ranzel in Lower Kassel. After the municipal pool was temporarily closed for refurbishment, she moved in 1999 to SV Hellas Siegburg before it two years later, the training group for the Modern Pentathlon of the SSF Bonn joined.
There she came in contact with the various disciplines of the versatile sport and opted for a professional exercise of the modern pentathlon. By winning the German youth championship in four combat ( shooting, fencing, swimming, running) in the years 2001 to 2003 she presented early this extraordinary talent to the test.
2004-2005: The first successes
At the age of just 18, it was 2004 for the first time German champion in modern pentathlon. They also took in the same year as one of two young German women athletes in the International Olympic Youth Camp at the Games in Athens in part.
Your first major title celebrated Schöneborn 2005 at the Junior World Championships in Moscow, where she was able to win the singles title.
Together with their current coach Kim Raisner and Elena kingdoms they won a complete surprise gold medal at the World Championships in Warsaw with the relay.
2006-2007: International breakthrough
In 2006, she completed her first season in the pros and impressed with a fourth place at the World Cup opener in Acapulco. At the World Championships in Guatemala Schöneborn immediately reached the finals and eventually finished in 20th place.
Already in the following year, Schöneborn established in the world rankings. Every sixth places at the first three World Cup was followed by a fourth place at the European Championships in Riga, also meant the direct qualification for the Olympic Games in Beijing.
At the World Championships in Berlin native, she won the runner-up title and added to their medal collection nor silver in the team and bronze in the relay added. She also since secured her second title at the German Championships and third at the Junior World Championships in Caldas Rainha.
2008: Olympic gold in Beijing
In the " Olympic Year " presented Schöneborn their good form already with a second place at the World Cup in Madrid and finished fifth at the European Championships in Budapest, among other.
Together with her team mate Eva Trautmann she went at the Summer Games in Beijing to launch in 2008, where they won in 1936 the first German Olympic gold medal in modern pentathlon since the triumph of the Gotthard Handrick in Berlin.
After a rather mediocre shooting with 177 rings as 21 of 36 starters they could improve on the first place in the fencing. With 28 victories in only seven defeats they set a new Olympic record in this sub-discipline. She left the tenth best swim time and a fourth place in show jumping followed with a single throw. Your lead they defended in the final 3000 -meter run with the ninth- best run time. They thus securing the Olympic victory against the British Heather Fell and the Ukrainian Victoria Tereshuk.
In the election for " Sportswoman of the Year " occupied Schöneborn fourth place behind swimmer Britta Steffen, fencer Britta Heidemann and biathlete Magdalena Neuner.
2009: A year of transition
The season of 2009 began by growing for Schöneborn: For the first two World Cup starts, they could not be placed in the front of the field, the home European Championships in Leipzig ended up with a big disappointment. After ordinary results in fencing and swimming it was discarded in the equestrian competition of her horse and fell so hopelessly in the standings back. They finally finished the competition as 34
The 2009 World Championships in London, however, proceeded much more successful. Through a very good performance in the final combined competition, which combines as a new discipline, the shooting and running, it improved in the individual from tenth to third place and thus secured the bronze medal. In addition, the German team with Schöneborn, Eva Trautmann ( 6 ) and Janine Kohlmann ( 24 ), surprisingly, the gold medal in the team standings as well as silver in the relay won.
2010: dominance in the World Cup
Your first World Cup victory Schöneborn secured on March 4, 2010 in Playa del Carmen / Mexico where they prevailed over Margaux Isaksen (USA) and Ewdokija Gretschitschnikowa (Russia). There followed an impressive winning streak, in the course of which she the World Cup in Budapest and Berlin, and the final in Moscow -. Thus four of the five events of the season - decided for themselves Only at the station in Medway, they had to settle with the tenth.
With three medals Schöneborn returned home from the European Championships in Debrecen, the second places in the individual competition and in the relay with Eva Trautmann and Annika spin crowned the trio with the title win in the team standings.
2011-2012: European Champion in Medway, disappointment at the Olympic Games
By winning the European Champion title in Medway Schöneborn added another title to her collection in August 2011. In a compelling contest, she referred the Hungarian Adrienn Tóth and the Ukrainian Tereshuk to the places. Even with the team ( silver medal, with Eva Trautmann and Annika spin ) and the relay ( silver medal, with Eva Trautmann ) Schöneborn was successful.
A month earlier was the World Cup Final in London at the same time as a dress rehearsal for the Olympics at the same place the following year. Also there was Schöneborn at the end at the top of the podium after they managed to get away on the last lap in the Combined by Laura Asadauskaite (Lithuania). With this victory, at the same time it secured the coveted direct qualification for the London Games.
At the end of the season, the World Cup in Moscow, Schöneborn missed though as the Fifth sought individual titles. However, as two years previously, was able to win the gold medal the team, they also took along with Eva Trautmann in the season in second place.
With the opening win at the World Cup in Charlotte Schöneborn celebrated a successful start into the Olympic season in 2012. Fifth place at the World Championships in Rome, the title at the inaugural 3- Season ( with Janine Kohlmann and Annika spin ) and winning the Kremlin Cup in Moscow confirm the good form.
The London Olympics ended for Schöneborn with a disappointing 15th place. Inconsistent performance in fencing ( 19 wins, 16 defeats) and swimming ( No. 22, 2:19.76 min ) and numerous penalties when riding ( No. 29 ) threw Schöneborn in the fight for the medals hopeless back.
Private life
Schöneborn has completed their educational career in 2005 at the Copernicus -Gymnasium in Kassel with low high school graduation.
Parallel to competitive sports, she studied from 2005 to 2010 at the HWR Berlin Business Administration. Subsequently, she completed just there the Master's program in International Marketing Management, she successfully completed in 2013.
Schöneborn lives in Berlin and trained at the city's Olympic Training Center, it starts for the SSF Bonn.
Awards
- 2005 - 2nd place Junior Athlete of the Year
- 2007 - 3rd place Junior Athlete of the Year
- 2008 - 4th place Sportswoman of the Year
- 2008 - Goldene Henne as a climber of the year
- 2008 - Order of Merit of the Federal State of Berlin
- 2009 - Sports plaque of North Rhine -Westphalia
- 2010 - Athlete of the Month June