Training, studying, working and, to balance things out, meeting friends or listening to podcasts: 25-year-old Jana Lakner is an ambitious young woman who, alongside her studies in environmental and industrial sensor technology at OTH Regensburg, is also enjoying success in sport. Her passion for long jump, 100-metre sprinting and swimming was ignited during school sports. At the age of 16, she started doing athletics on the side. Things got really serious in 2021 in Regensburg with her current coach. Since then, she has been training intensively for the 400-metre race.
Looking back, 2025 was the most successful year of her sporting career so far for the Landshut native. In addition to her first appearances in the German jersey, the FISU World University Games were a particular highlight. Here, Jana ran in the semi-finals in front of her home crowd on her birthday. ‘The race felt really good, and when the crowd sang me a birthday song afterwards, it was truly something very special,’ says Lakner. In June of this year, she also improved her personal best in the 400 metres to 51.73 seconds. By comparison, the world record stands at 47.60 seconds.
However, Jana Lakner is not currently focused on this record time, but on the near future: ‘The 2028 Olympics are my main goal. But also the journey there: international competitions, new personal bests and maybe an individual start at a World or European Championship. That would be really great!’ In September, Jana will compete in the 4x400-metre relay at the World Championships in Tokyo. This is a great opportunity and a step closer to participating in the Olympic Games. Ambition, enjoyment of sport and a strong support network give her the necessary drive. She does not feel any external pressure, ‘the pressure comes from myself’.
Jana began her studies at OTH Regensburg in 2021 after completing her training as a mechatronics engineer. What she finds particularly exciting about her degree programme in environmental and industrial sensor technology is how it incorporates chemical and physical aspects. After significantly improving her personal best in the 400 metres in 2022, she received a scholarship to study in the USA. Originally, she had only planned to spend six months at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. However, the excellent training conditions and coaches – including former Olympic athletes – convinced her to stay for a year and a half. She then continued her studies in Regensburg. In the autumn, however, she will return to the USA for her practical semester. ‘In 2026, I will enjoy the beautiful summer in Regensburg once again and complete my bachelor's degree at OTH Regensburg,’ says the athlete.
How does she manage to juggle everything? Even though exam periods and competitions often overlap, Jana has her daily routine well structured. Training in the morning, lectures at noon – or vice versa – studying or spending time with friends in the evening. ‘I don't know any other way; sport and studying go hand in hand for me.’
