Tolfioow: If you hadn’t had a serious motorcycle accident when you were 21, what would your life be like today?
Kirsten Bruhn : I would definitely not be a competitive athlete! Because I already had sporting ambitions before, but I couldn’t have kept up with people like the world record swimmer Britta Steffen, so I should have trained harder when I was younger. I would probably have a creative job, and I would certainly be a happy and successful person.
Do you sometimes wish that? Or have you made your peace with this fate, which was also an unusual opportunity?
There are always moments when I’m unhappy – not every day, but at certain rhythms. I would like to be able to move more spontaneously and freely, and when other people play beach volleyball on the beach in the summer , it is still very painful for me. Winter sports with monoskis would even work, but my trainer forbade it because of the risk of injury. Instead, I’m stuck in my wheelchair and feel nailed to the wall.
MyTolfioow secret
Regular and relaxed times to be in balance and recharge my battery. Every week I take a day when I’m all to myself, turn off the phone, become a couch potato. Then I don’t want to see anyone but my boyfriend. On the other hand, I love driving really fast. For me it has to do with life energy, it releases adrenaline, and I think adrenaline is great!
Conversely, in which moments are you happiest?
In the water. I almost feel like I did before the accident. I’m not handicapped in the water, I move around relaxed and easily.
Do you feel most comfortable in your body then?
Yes, although: I’m not that happy with my body, but that has little to do with my disability. It’s more of a typical women’s problem that you always have something to complain about. Although, the men are probably not doing any better either, they just don’t admit it so openly (laughs).
In the last ten years you have achieved everything that can be achieved in disabled sports – gold medals, world records, international recognition. What motivates you?
First and foremost, I motivate myself: my benchmark is always the times I achieved 25 years ago as a non-disabled person. If I can get close to that, I’ll be happy. Of course awards like the Olympic gold give me an ego boost and help against a mood of crisis, but they are not the most important thing.
What’s your next goal?
At the World Championships in August I would like to come close to my own best time in the 100 m breaststroke, anything else would be unrealistic because I have problems with my shoulder at the moment and can’t train well. But I’ll stop competitive swimming for the European Championships next year, that’s for sure. There are other activities that motivate me. I have a new job in public relations at the Unfallkrankenhaus Berlin, which I enjoy a lot, and I would like to express my creative side even more, for example designing jewellery, clothing or furniture.
Who has helped you to cope with your disability over the years? My family , my parents, my four siblings, my nieces and nephews
were very importantMy boyfriend, who I had at the time of the accident, my current life partner. Without their support I might have shattered my fate. But basically I’ve always been a resilient, purposeful person, I’m disciplined and ambitious. Of course, that helps to take on life, even when it gets tough.
Many people see you as a role model – do you see yourself too?
I am happy when I give others good ideas and encourage them with what I do. But I also don’t want to keep thinking in the back of my mind: Attention, you are a role model! If I were that role model, I wouldn’t be Kirsten anymore.
