Leia Behlau

Germany

Sport	Speed Skating
FederationID	SSGER21204199601
NOC	Germany
Born	12 Apr 1996 in Unna
Gender	Women

Residence	Inzell, GER
Occupation	Police Athlete
Languages	English, German
Higher education	International Management - Ansbach University of Applied Sciences: Germany

Personal Bests	Event	Record	Date	Location
Personal Bests
	Event	Record	Date	Location
	500m	40.52	25 Feb 2022	Inzell
	1000m	1:17.63	04 Dec 2021	Salt Lake City, UT
	1500m	1:56.17	12 Dec 2021	Calgary
	3000m	4:06.18	03 Dec 2021	Salt Lake City, UT
	5000m	7:29.49	13 Dec 2015	Inzell

Sport Specific Information

Club / Team

DEC Inzell: Germany

General Interest

Other sports	She has competed in roller speed skating at national level and finished fourth at the 2014 German Championships in Bielefeld. (sportgymnasium-erfurt.de, 15 Sep 2014)
Famous relatives	Her father Thorsten has worked as a speed skating coach. Her younger brother Nils has competed in the sport at Junior World Cup events. (Athlete, 07 Feb 2021; SportsDeskOnline, 21 Jan 2021; speedskatingresults.com, 02 Nov 2014; derwesten.de, 10 Jan 2012)

Sport Specific Information

When and where did you begin this sport?

She began speed skating in 2003 at age seven at the Mohnesee Ice Skating Club [SCM] in Echtrop, Germany.

Social Media

www.facebook.com/LeiaMarieBehlau
twitter.com/LeiaMarieBehlau

General Interest

Other information	BREAK AND RETURN In early 2020 she returned to speed skating after a 20-month break from competition. "I was in contact with [coach] Michi Restner and a conversation emerged from it, and in the end we decided that I would put my skates on again. After a 20-month break from competitions and no ice training in the 2019/20 season, I started again. The 'ice feeling' that I lost before my break is slowly coming back [speaking in 2020] and motivates me to keep working on it." (sueddeutsche.de, 04 Mar 2022; Facebook page, 17 Jan 2021, 11 Jan 2021; traunsteiner-tagblatt.de, 13 Jan 2021; Instagram profile, 25 Oct 2020) POLICE ATHLETE In 2021 she joined the elite sports programme of the Bavarian Police in Germany. She was previously part of the sports group at the Bundeswehr [the German armed forces] between 2015 and 2018. (sueddeutsche.de, 04 Mar 2022)
Hobbies	Cross-country skiing, ski mountaineering, hiking, road cycling, mountain biking, running, fashion, photography, animals. (Athlete, 07 Feb 2021)
Memorable sporting achievement	Skating under two minutes in the 1500m at the 2015 World Allround Championships in Calgary, AB, Canada. (Athlete, 07 Feb 2021)

Sport Specific Information

Reason for choosing this sport

"I saw some speed skaters skating in circles around me while I was attending a beginners' lesson for ice skating, and wanted to try speed skating because it looked very impressive to me."

General Interest

Most influential person in career	Her father. (Athlete, 07 Feb 2021)
Hero / Idol	Her grandparents. (Athlete, 07 Feb 2021)

Sport Specific Information

Name of coach

Michael Restner [personal], GER

General Interest

Sporting philosophy / motto	"It never gets easier, you just get stronger." (Athlete, 07 Feb 2021)
Ambitions	To compete at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan-Cortina. (sueddeutsche.de, 04 Mar 2022)

Sport Specific Information

Training Regime

She trains at the Max Aicher Arena in Inzell, Germany.

Championships results	Year	Competition	Event	Rank
Championships results
	2021/2022	European Single Distances Championships	Team Pursuit	5
	2021/2022	European Single Distances Championships	3000m	9
	2021/2022	European Single Distances Championships	1500m	10
	2021/2022	World Allround Championships	Allround	15
	2015/2016	European Championships	Allround	16
	2020/2021	European Allround Championships	Allround	18
	2014/2015	World Allround Championships	Allround	22

World Cups	Year	Competition	Event	Rank
World Cups
	2021/2022	World Cup Classification	3000/5000m	35
	2021/2022	World Cup Classification	1500m	41