Sven Knipphals talks to spikesmag.com
Spikesmag.com meets Sven Knipphals, a German sprinter and chiropractor who has ambitions to go under 10 seconds.
Hello Sven, so I hear you’re studying in England?
Yes, I am studying for a Masters in
Chiropractics at the Anglo-European Chiropractic College in
Bournemouth and I am currently halfway through the five-year course.
The course suits me because as it is split over five years I also have time to concentrate on my athletics career.
A chiropractor? So do you treat yourself?
Currently I cannot treat myself fully until the final year but there are a few things that I can do through my learning to help myself in athletics, such as improving my posture which I am finding beneficial.
Would you like to set up your own chiropractor business?
After I qualify, I would very much like to establish my own practise perhaps back home in Germany so I can help other athletes by improving their bio mechanics so they can train better with less injuries.
Who trains you?
I have two coaches, one in Germany called Werner Moraweitz who writes my track programmes for me to follow when I am away and my other coach is Paul Reid who is a power lifting coach in England.
I do a lot of Olympic weight lifting for my training as it helps me gain added power and is something I enjoy.
So, how did you get into athletics?
I am lucky really as I come from quite a sporting family.
My father (
Jens Knipphals) was a long-jumper who was selected for the German team for the 1980 Olympics in Moscow, he got a best of 8.40m but because of politics at the time, West Germany were sadly unable to compete.
My grandfather (Hans-Jurgen Knipphals) was also very sporting and was the German goalkeeper in the handball team that played in the 1950’s early 60’s.
I played football when I was younger but as I was small and fast I was always getting fouled and then injured.
So around the age of 16 I got into athletics, usually running 100m and 200m. I was a late starter I guess and remember my first time for 100m was 12.13!
I also had a go at the long jump but settled on my running and started to improve on my times every year.
What are your aims in athletics?
My long-term aim is to be the best in Germany for the 100m or the 200m or even both, I would like to run the 100m in 9.99.
People might call it arrogant or cocky but that is my long-term aim.
I think you need to set yourself a goal like that so that you do well and achieve a lot in whatever you’re doing.
My shorter-term goals are to stay injury free and run in the European Championships and then the Olympics in London.
Do you have any heroes in athletics?
No heroes as such but I really like to watch
Asafa Powell as I think he is a very good runner technically.
Away from your studies and your athletics, how do you relax?
I like to play
FIFA on the computer! I also like relaxing with my girlfriend and doing things like going to see a movie and I also play the guitar.
The guitar? So are you a budding musician then?
Well I wouldn’t say that! I used to play the violin and have played guitar now for about eight years.
So what’s next for you?
I’m off to Portugal for a few days to train with my team and then we’re going over to
Orlando in America to compete in a relay and maybe the 100m.
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