Alexandra Wilke is preparing for the World Cup semi-finals with the German national basketball team

Alexandra Wilke should actually be in Karlsruhe today. There is a conference at the Helmholtz-Gymnasium at the end of the summer holidays. But Wilke has more important things to do right now. The 29-year-old, who teaches math and sports at the high school, is preparing with the German national basketball team in Berlin for the World Cup semi-final this Saturday (4:30 p.m.) against France.

“I can miss the conference,” said Wilke after the surprising 93:74 in the quarterfinals against Belgium. She is currently receiving a lot of messages from students and colleagues. “They’re all following it,” said Wilke, whose focus is entirely on the tournament in Berlin.

“I can switch off quite well there. When I'm at basketball, all I think about is basketball. And when I'm at school I just go to school," said Wilke, who plays in the Bundesliga for the German champions Rutronik Stars Keltern.

Free day for the World Cup final

In Berlin she succeeded in this focus so well that she was one of the strongest players against Belgium with ten points. And the school management is also proud of their colleague and is following the tournament. "I've already been told: If we play the final on Sunday, then we'll also talk about Monday," said Wilke. Then it's the first day of school in Baden-Württemberg. As world champion, Wilke should then return from vacation a day later.