Why Is Beautiful Alica Schmidt More Than the World’s Sexiest Athlete?

A Childhood Built for Speed

Born in 1998, Schmidt’s need for speed was a constant theme of her childhood. She recalls always wanting to run, even when her parents would beg her to slow down and walk. From around age seven, she began competing in local races in Worms and later Ingolstadt. For Alica, running was never really a choice; it was just what she did.

Her First Club, MTV Ingolstadt

Schmidt began her career training at MTV Ingolstadt, the local club that gave her structure for the first time. She started out competing across the 200m, 400m and 800m, before adding 400m hurdles to her programme in 2018. A young sprinter trying a bit of everything, long before anyone outside Bavaria knew her name.

A Breakthrough at Junior Level

In 2017, Schmidt came second in the 200m at the German under-20 Championship. That same year, at the European Athletics U20 Championships, she helped Germany’s 4x400m relay team take silver, with a time faster than the previous age group world record. It was the first medal at the championships for an Ingolstadt athlete since 1999. A genuine breakout moment for a teenager.

One Headline Changed Everything

In 2017, at just 19 years old, Australian magazine Busted Coverage labelled her “the world’s sexiest athlete.” She’s said the label sent her social media following through the roof. She recalled being genuinely shocked by the sudden influx of new followers, with her brother eventually telling her to check how many websites had written about her. Overnight, a junior athlete from Bavaria became an international story.

A Title She’s Never Fully Accepted

Speaking to Olympics.com, Schmidt said the title means nothing to her, calling it “a subjective opinion of someone else judging the appearance of a person.” She added that she believes “beauty comes from the inside.” A label she’s never asked for, and one she’s pushed back against publicly more than once, while staying focused on the track.

Bronze on the Senior Stage

In 2019, she helped Germany win bronze in the 4x400m relay at the European U23 Championships. Junior medals are one thing. Backing them up at U23 level, against a deeper, more experienced field, is what turns a promising talent into a genuine senior prospect.

A First Olympic Call-Up

Schmidt was selected for the German relay squad at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics, travelling as a substitute in the mixed relay, though she did not race. Standing on the edge of an Olympic team, even without competing, is still a milestone most athletes never reach. It set the stage for what came next.

Paris 2024: Representing Germany on the Biggest Stage

In May 2024, Schmidt was selected for Germany’s 4x400m mixed relay squad at the Paris Olympics. This time, she actually competed. Whatever the result on the track, simply walking out for Germany at an Olympic Games is the kind of moment a career is built around.

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A Real Brand Beyond the Track

She’s an official Hugo Boss ambassador, alongside fellow ambassador David Beckham. She was also named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, recognition that reaches well beyond athletics alone. Few athletes in her sport have built a commercial profile of that size.

A Tough Season, Faced Head-On

Battling COVID-19 just before the 2025 German Championships, Schmidt still lined up and raced. She called it a tough season, but the one she needed—the kind that exposes weaknesses and forces real improvement. She admitted she’s “still not where I want to be” as an athlete, but made it clear she has no intention of backing down. That’s what separates competitors who fade from those who use setbacks as fuel.

Books and Bib Numbers: Studying While Training

In October 2018, Schmidt enrolled in a distance learning programme in Media and Communications Management at Fresenius University, choosing flexibility over walking away from school entirely. She’s balanced demanding university coursework with up to ten training sessions a week.

Changing Lanes: The Move to the 800m

Schmidt has shifted her competitive focus toward the 800m, a switch that’s added real pressure to her training and recovery. She’s said she’s now looking ahead to 2026, hoping to get her body fully healthy and fit in a few more races before fully shifting focus to the new event. A genuine athletic reinvention, mid-career.