Jessie Maduka, the reigning German indoor women's triple jump champion and an indoor and outdoor All-American during her career at UCLA who boasts personal-best efforts of 45-11.25 (14.00m) in both seasons, joins DyeStat editor Erik Boal from her home in Dusseldorf to discuss representing her country Aug. 17 at the European Athletics Championships at the Olympic Stadium in Munich. Maduka, 26, competed in her first senior level European Championships in 2018 in Berlin and placed 15th with a mark of 45-9 (13.94m). She explains how significant it is to have the event being held in Germany once again after the competition in 2020 in Paris was canceled as a result of COVID-19 concerns. Maduka examines how this year's event will have an Olympic feeling connected with it, as there will also be competitions such as climbing, rowing and gymnastics, among others, as part of the overall schedule. She reflects on how significant it was to compete for Germany at the senior level in 2018 following her exceptional career at UCLA, and how challenging it was to recover from a foot injury in 2019, along with persevering through the pandemic. Maduka analyzes how meaningful it was to win the German indoor title in February in Leipzig with her first career 14-meter performance, and the motivation she had after not being considered for the national team that would compete in March at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Serbia. She reminisces about how special her return trip was to California for the German national team training camp at Westmont College in Santa Barbara prior to the World Athletics Championships in July, and expresses gratitude for the opportunity to reconnect with former UCLA jumps coach Danny Williams, who lives in San Luis Obispo. Maduka also reflects on her return to Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., for the first time since the 2018 NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Championships, and shares her thoughts on the renovated stadium and reconnecting with other former UCLA athletes, along with competing at her first World Athletics Championships. She also speaks about her potential in the triple jump after previously representing Germany in the sprints, including earning a silver medal as part of the 4x100-meter relay at the 2012 World Athletics Junior Championships in Barcelona, Spain.