Translate to English Track and field athlete Adia Budde is Kiel’s athlete of the year for the first time

Tübingen. It was the biggest decision of her career to date: In the summer of 2024, Adia Budde decided to leave Altenholz and move into her first apartment. Not just anywhere, but 800 kilometers away. With the dream of a competitive sports career in her luggage, the Kiel native went to Baden-Württemberg.

South instead of north, Neckar instead of the Baltic Sea, Tübingen instead of Kiel. “Of course I miss my family and my friends,” admits the 20-year-old. Nevertheless, the track and field athlete has fully arrived in her new home and has also taken the next step in sport. Last year, Budde was crowned German champion in the 3000 meter steeplechase, also took bronze at the U23 European Championships and the World University Games, and became German U23 champion in the 1500 meter flat. After this outstanding season, the readers of Kieler Nachrichten have Aida Budde Kiel’s Female Athlete of the Year Chosen in 2025.

Adia Budde: German championship was “overwhelming”

“A year ago I wouldn’t have thought that I would become German champion,” says Budde. “It was overwhelming in a positive sense. Many from Tübingen were there, and I was able to enjoy the championship title in company.”

The woman from Kiel is also enjoying life in her new sports home. “Everyone did a lot to make me feel comfortable here.” Budde now has a place in her dream psychology course, which could perhaps also help her athlete’s career given the mental component in sport. “Definitely at some point later. Right now I have statistics and research methodology – that doesn’t help that much right now.” The focus for now is on physical training.

Larger training group and co: How Budde is taking the next step in Tübingen

The woman from Kiel works hard and trains every day. “There are a total of ten to twelve sessions a week,” she explains. And so the answer to the question of where she prefers to spend time in Tübingen is only somewhat surprising: “On the train.” The city is also beautiful, “but it’s best on the track. You meet the whole training group and it’s always fun.”

The training community in the professional environment is significantly larger than it used to be. “In Altenholz there were eight of us. Now there are 30 to 40 people at training on Wednesday.” Budde continues to train with them for her goals and wants to significantly beat her 3000 meter obstacle time from last year (9:45 minutes at the German championship): “I would like to run a time closer to 9:20 minutes.”

Above all, she wants to work on her endurance – to go to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles? “If things go well, you can consider it. Of course it would be cool if it worked out in 2028,” says Budde, but doesn’t see any pressure in this direction. “Let’s see how I develop.”

Kiel Sportswoman of the Year: “Being in the north is always nice!”

Because it won’t be easy: With Olivia Gürth (23), Gesa Krause (33) and Lea Meyer (28), there are still three top dogs at the start in the 3000 meter steeplechase who have already taken part in the 2024 Olympic Games. “You have a best performance that is 20 seconds faster. I have to get there first.”

On the way there, Budde tries again and again to take a detour to her homeland. “I’m only home three or four times a year, but then I try to stay for a longer period of time.” Because: “Being in the north is always nice. I enjoy going to the sea. I don’t have that here.” Adia Budde is all the more pleased about the prize from Kiel. “I take it as motivation for the upcoming indoor competitions.” Which you will also observe closely on the fjord.

KN