It is set to be the absolute highlight of the year for three VfB athletes when they participate in the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. The trio will be giving it every ounce of passion, ambition and commitment as they look to create some unforgettable moments on the biggest stage in the world.
Here are our three white-and-red hopefuls in Tokyo:
Leo Neugebauer (decathlon)
Leo is an exceptional athlete who has written new chapters in Germany sporting history over recent years, breaking the German decathlon record in 2023 before improving on his personal best a year later to win a silver medal at the Paris Olympics. He’ll be hoping to go one better in Tokyo.
Alina Rotaru-Kottmann (Romania, long jump)
A long jumper with experience and class, Alina has taken part in three consecutive Olympics (Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024) and brought home bronze from the 2023 World Championships in Budapest. Her powerful and well-practised run-up always makes her likely to record an impressive distance.
Alina Kenzel (shot put)
This multiple German junior champion has long established herself among the world’s elite. After taking part in the 2024 Paris Olympics and finishing just off the podium in fourth at the European Championships in Rome, she’ll be aiming to go far again in Tokyo.
We could not be prouder of our athletes, who will be in the medal hunt in Tokyo not only for their countries but also for VfB. We wish them all the very best and can’t wait to cheer them on!