Turning Olympic pain into life purpose
Indeed, for Mihambo it’s never over…until the last jump. The long jump queen fought hard to stay in contention, and it paid off.
“I know how it is to have people in my life who give everything for me and who make my life like a top priority for them, my family, my mother but also in sports you’re never alone, it’s a team. I have my coach for example, my management, and I know they really see the person in me. I also never stopped believing in myself, and I think that is what made the silver possible.”
“I tried to remind myself that I can go through pain and if I survive, I will have more clarity and more power.”
The consistency of the Heidelberg native will again be put to the test at the World Championships, where she starts as the world leader (according to the World Athletics September 2025 world rankings) ahead of the reigning Olympic gold medallist Tara Davis-Woodhall.
Although a third gold medal would be inspiring, Mihambo’s leaps transcend competition accolades. She is more motivated by the opportunity to showcase her unwavering spirit and perseverance on a bigger stage.
“I’m quite sure that this will be a good year as well,” said Mihambo, whose 7.07m jump in Karlsruhe has her lying second behind her American rival Davis-Woodhall, who qualified for Tokyo with 7.12m.
“I want to be in a mindset where I’m independent of results, medals and performances, fame… Maybe this is something special about me, that I’m not focusing on winning that much. Because I’ve learned so much in those 31 years, I’m on Earth. I learned that there’s much more to the world or to life than just focusing on the materials and the things right in front of you.”
Mihambo’s passion for making an impact and leaving a legacy is closely linked to her sports-focused foundation, which helps families and children get into track and field.
“I have this idea that if we ignite some fires of passion for sports, for social engagement, for fair play, tolerance, peace of mind among the children, we can build up a society that’s focussed more on values that you cannot count.”