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![]() German gymnast Carina Kröll told IG that winning two medals in her first World Challenge Cup meet last November boosted her confidence, and could well boost her position on the German team that is preparing for this year's European and world championships. German gymnast Carina Kröll told IG that winning two medals in her first World Challenge Cup meet last November boosted her confidence, and could well boost her position on the German team that is preparing for this year's European and world championships. "The success in Cottbus was a reward for the hard work in training, and gave me a lot of self-confidence and motivation for 2017," said Kröll, who placed first on floor exercise and second on balance beam at the Challenge Cup of Cottbus. "It makes me very proud that my victory attracted a lot media attention to me, and my name as the youngest Challenge Cup winner in Germany went into history. It is also nice to have contact with international companies like Alpha Factor (apparel) through international competitions that help me in my sport." Kröll said her lack of experience actually helped her perform calmly in Cottbus. ![]() Carina Kröll (Germany) "As I was the youngest gymnast, I was able to do my routines relaxed and without big pressure," she said. "In the end I was very happy about the result." Born December 29, 2000, in Filderstadt, Kröll lives in Neuhausen and represents MTV Stuttgart/TSV Berkheim. Her coaches are Marie-Luise Probst-Hindermann and Robert Mai on all apparatuses; and Yelena Dolgopolova, a member of Russia's silver medal-winning team at the 1996 Olympic Games, primarily on balance beam. Kröll said she plans to make her performances even steadier and more substantial in 2017. "I will try to stabilize my routines and improve the difficulty as much as possible," she said. "In the new Code of Points more emphasis is placed on execution and connections, so I am working on learning and perfecting new skills and adding them to my routines. My focus on beam is on the jumps, spins and my very special dismount. I would love to show my routines in as many competitions as possible and gain experience." Kröll said she is hopeful that she can break into the lineup of the German team at the European championships in Cluj in April and the world championships in Montreal in October. "I am working hard for my goals but participation is not yet sure," she said. "In the qualification competitions, the form on the day is decisive and a bit of luck is also part of it." Although Kröll did not make the German team for last summer's Olympic Games in Rio, she has been a steady presence at the junior and senior levels. She placed sixth all-around at the 2012 German Junior Championships, fifth all-around at the 2013 German Junior Championships and third all-around at the 2014 German Junior Championships. Kröll was a member of Germany's fourth-place team at the 2014 European Junior Championships in Sofia, and she finished ninth all-around at the 2016 German Senior Championships. Kröll said she considers herself a potentially valuable contributor on each apparatus. "I see myself as a specialist for beam as well as a solid all-arounder," Kröll told IG. "I am able to do all four events and I enjoy them all. I work hard, I am diligent and I am a team player, and that is what a team needs. I'm going to do my best to help the team in everything that I can do, but also fight for my own goals." International Gymnast magazine's features on German gymnasts include: Sophie Scheder chat (October 2016)
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