Teamwork, commitment, dedication, energy and enjoyment are values embodied by the group of athletes coached by ex-German 800m and 1500m runner Stephan Plätzer. The most prominent among them being his wife, Kjersti, Norway’s silver medallist at the 2000 Olympics 20km Race walk, who last week joyously announced the 'recruitment' of a brand new member of ‘Team Plätzer’.

More at: https://worldathletics.org/news/news/a-new-addition-for-team-platzer

With mixed feelings about her 12th placing in Athens, the best performance of an injury ravaged year, progression towards the Beijing Games seemed like it would be something of a Long March for the 33-year-old Kjersti Plätzer.

”I got injured in the warm-up at the World Cup in Naumburg last year. I then lost all of May’s training. I think my body telling me it needed a rest.”

Now she’s announced she won’t compete this year, as she’s expecting a baby in July.

‘It’s funny, after the Olympics Stephan told me “as your coach, my advice is the faster you get pregnant the better. Then you can train through the winter and be back for the next winter’s training. But as your husband I may think differently!”’