Mariama JAMANKA

Historical Results

MJ

Reading, sport, riding her motorcycle, going to the cinema, squash, swimming, climbing.

Athlete, Sport Soldier

Technical University of Berlin (GER)

Mother, Andrea.

German

BRC Thuringia

National: Rene Spies (GER), Matthias Hoepfner (GER)
Personal: Martin Putze (GER)

Pilot

Athletics: Competed in both discus and hammer throw at a national level until 2011.

2015 World Cup in Koenigssee (Two-woman - 8th)

2016

Took up the sport in 2013 at the suggestion of coach Klaus Haffner. Two years later, she started driving. (Info 2018; mariama-jamanka.de)

In athletics, her coach realised she was a talented athlete, but did not fit the mold of a sprinter, heptathlete or thrower. He thought her strength and speed would be better suited in bobsleigh. (bz-berlin.de, 22 Feb 2018)

To win a medal at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games, after which she has considered retirement. “The Olympics would be a good ending and then I will turn to other things. I'll be 31 after the season and I think it's a good time to quit bobsleigh." (teamthueringen23.de; bild.de, 30 Oct 2021)

"I usually do something called double periodization. That means I start the year with basic training, then increase the weights, the speeds, and the intensity over time, decreasing the number of repetitions and the run length. I do this up to a predetermined point in the year, and then I basically start all over again. The idea is, of course, that in the second period you can lift heavier weights and run faster without the body getting used to it." (fitbook.de, 4 Jan 2018)

Her surprising gold medal at the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games. (allee-der-olympiasieger-und-weltmeister-oberhof.de)

Always drinks an energy drink before a race.

"I've always been someone who warms up with music. I have a competition playlist that I am constantly working on. Some songs will probably stay there forever. Actually, I'm not superstitious, but I have a feeling that if I hear a certain song before the race, then it will be a good run." (fitbook.de, 4 Jan 2018)

"Never give up. It's only over when it's over." (allee-der-olympiasieger-und-weltmeister-oberhof.de)

Silver Laurel Leaf (2018)