Alica Schmidt didn't get the season she dreamed of in 2025. But if you ask her, it may have been exactly what she needed.
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Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images for European Athletics
The German track and field star, often dubbed the "world's sexiest athlete," faced her share of challenges this year. From tough races to unexpected setbacks, it was far from smooth sailing. And just when it looked like she was finding her rhythm, COVID showed up like an uninvited guest.
"This season really put me to the test," Schmidt wrote to her 5.5 million Instagram followers. "Tough races, lots of lessons, and a whole lot of growth. It wasn't the season I was hoping for, but it was definitely the one I needed."
She revealed she came down with COVID just days before the German Championships. That made things tough, and it showed. Schmidt had strong early results, including a win in her 800-meter heat at the German Indoor Championships back in February, but she slipped to fourth in the final.
Still, there were bright spots. Schmidt helped lead the SCC Berlin relay team to a first-place finish in a women's 4?—200-meter short track heat. The speed was still there, even if the season didn't quite cooperate.
Now she's focused on getting healthy and resetting the clock for 2026.
"I'm hoping to get my body 100 percent healthy again and squeeze in a few more races before shifting focus to 2026," she added. "Still completely in love with the process."
That mindset has helped make Schmidt more than just a force on the track. She's built a massive global following, fueled in part by her appearance at the 2024 Olympics in Paris. No medals, no problem. Her message was about something bigger.
"The Olympics are not just about winning medals," she posted. "It's about being alongside inspiring athletes while competing at the highest level. Showing ambition, celebrating diversity and people no matter who they are and where they are from."
Schmidt admitted the past few weeks have been a bit of an emotional rollercoaster, but she's not about to slow down now.
"As an athlete I am still not where I want to be and maybe I will never be," she wrote. "But the one thing that is for sure — I will never stop trying and figuring out ways to improve."
Whether she's sprinting on the track or inspiring fans online, Alica Schmidt is still running her race. And something tells us she's not even close to the finish line.
