It is a special kind of anniversary. When Claudia Pechstein, who celebrates her 49th birthday on February 22nd, starts the race over 3000 meters in Heerenveen, the Mecca of speed skating, on Thursday afternoon, her 20th participation in individual distance world championships will begin - Nobody had such stamina in their sport before.
She won 30 medals - five of them gold - which is also a world record.
But also the dark side of her career does not let go of her: Without positive results, the most successful German winter Olympian in 2009 was banned for two years for alleged blood doping.
Five years later, the German Olympic Sports Confederation confirmed her innocence.
The federal police officer is suing for damages in the millions.
The years have left deep marks.
They are admired abroad, but in Germany they have eaten many.
A conversation.