Kristina Vogel facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Kristina Vogel

Vogel in 2022
Personal information
Born	(1990-11-10) 10 November 1990 (age 34) Leninskoye, Bishkek, Kirghiz SSR
Height	1.60 m
Team information
Discipline	Track
Role	Rider
Rider type	Sprinter

Kristina Vogel, born on November 10, 1990, is a famous former German track cyclist. She was an amazing athlete who won many races! During her career, she earned two gold medals and one bronze medal at the Olympic Games. She also became a world champion eleven times in track cycling. Sadly, she had a serious accident in June 2018 that left her unable to move her legs.

Kristina Vogel's Early Life and Cycling Start

Kristina was born in a place called Leninskoye, in Kyrgyzstan. She moved to Germany with her family when she was just six months old.

Becoming a Junior Champion

When she was younger, in 2007 and 2008, Kristina competed in junior cycling championships. She was incredibly talented! She became a junior world champion six times and a junior European champion two times. This showed everyone how much potential she had in cycling.

Overcoming a Serious Accident in 2009

In April 2009, Kristina had a very serious accident. She was riding her bike near her home in Erfurt, Germany, when she crashed into a small bus. The accident was so bad that she was put into a special sleep, called an artificial coma, for two days to help her recover.

Even after such a difficult time, Kristina worked hard to get back on her bike. She competed in the 2010 UCI Track Cycling World Championships and the 2011 UCI Track Cycling World Championships. This showed her incredible strength and determination!

Kristina Vogel's Olympic and World Championship Success

Kristina Vogel became one of the most successful track cyclists in the world. She won many important medals, including at the Olympics and World Championships.

Winning Gold at the 2012 Olympics

Kristina Vogel (right) and Miriam Welte (left) on the podium at the 2012 Track World Championships.

At the 2012 UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Melbourne, Australia, Kristina and her teammate Miriam Welte won a gold medal in the team sprint event. They even set a new world record during the race!

Later that year, at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Kristina and Miriam made history. They won the first-ever Olympic gold medal for women's team sprint. It was an amazing achievement!

More Olympic Medals in 2016

Kristina continued her success at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She won another gold medal, this time in the women's individual sprint event. She also earned a bronze medal in the women's team sprint, again with her teammate Miriam Welte.

Kristina Vogel's Life After Cycling

In June 2018, Kristina Vogel faced another life-changing event.

The Accident in 2018

On June 26, 2018, Kristina was training at a velodrome (a special track for cycling) in Cottbus, Germany. She had a high-speed collision with another cyclist. The impact was very hard, and it caused serious injuries to her spine. This accident unfortunately left her paralyzed, meaning she could no longer move her legs.

After the accident, her teammates, like Maximilian Levy, helped raise money for her recovery. They used the hashtag #staystrongkristina to show their support.

A New Path in Politics

Even after her cycling career ended, Kristina Vogel found new ways to contribute. Before her accident, she was also working part-time as a police officer. In 2019, she decided to enter politics. She ran for election as a candidate for the Christian Democratic Union of Germany in the city council elections in Erfurt. This shows her continued dedication to serving her community.

Kristina Vogel's Major Achievements

Kristina Vogel achieved many impressive results throughout her cycling career. Here are some of her most important wins:

2008

• UCI Juniors Track World Championships
  • 1st Keirin
  • 1st Sprint
  • 1st 500m time trial

2010

• UEC European Track Championships
  • 2nd Sprint
  • 3rd Team sprint (with Miriam Welte)

2011

• 3rd Team sprint (with Miriam Welte), UEC European Track Championships

2012

• Olympic Games
  • 1st Team sprint (with Miriam Welte)
• UCI World Championships
  • 1st Team sprint (with Miriam Welte)
  • 3rd Keirin

2013

• UCI World Championships
  • 1st Team sprint (with Miriam Welte)
  • 2nd Sprint
• UEC European Track Championships
  • 1st Sprint
  • 2nd Keirin
  • 2nd Team sprint (with Miriam Welte)

2014

• UEC European Track Championships
  • 1st Keirin
  • 2nd Team sprint (with Miriam Welte)
  • 3rd Sprint

2015

• UCI World Championships
  • 1st Sprint
• UEC European Track Championships
  • 2nd Team sprint (with Miriam Welte)
  • 3rd Sprint

2016

• Olympic Games
  • 1st Sprint
  • 3rd Team sprint (with Miriam Welte)
• UCI World Championships
  • 1st Keirin
  • 3rd Team sprint (with Miriam Welte)
  • 3rd Sprint

2017

• UCI World Championships
  • 1st Keirin
  • 1st Sprint
  • 3rd Team sprint (with Miriam Welte)
• UEC European Track Championships
  • 1st Keirin
  • 1st Sprint
  • 2nd Team sprint (with Miriam Welte)
• National Track Championships
  • 1st Keirin
  • 1st Sprint
  • 1st Team Sprint (with Pauline Grabosch)

See also

In Spanish: Kristina Vogel para niños