Lena Kesting

Lena Kesting is a German sports journalist and ZDF presenter who led Die Finals 2026 and presents swimming from Paris in August.

Biography

A former competitive swimmer, Kesting moved from sports journalism studies into Olympic reporting and multi-sport live television.

She led ZDF's July broadcasts from Hannover and is scheduled for the August 11, 13 and 15 swimming sessions in Paris.

She guided ZDF viewers through two long multi-sport broadcast days from Hannover.^[1]^[4]

She presents live sport including ski jumping and swimming for ZDF.^[2]^[5]

Finals Host
She led ZDF's Die Finals 2026 coverage
Kesting was the main presenter on ZDF's July 23 and July 25 live programmes from Hannover.^[1]^[4]
Swimming Euros
She presents swimming from Paris in August 2026
ZDF scheduled her to lead the European swimming coverage on August 11, 13 and 15.^[5]
Competitive Swimmer
She previously competed as a swimmer
Her own sporting background informs her interviewing and understanding of the poolside mixed zone.^[6]^[3]
Zdf Path
Her ZDF career began behind the scenes
She progressed from newsroom placement and student work to an editor role and regular morning-show presentation.^[2]^[6]
Multi Sport
Her assignments extend beyond swimming
Kesting has presented ski jumping, alpine skiing and major football and Olympic coverage for ZDF.^[2]^[3]

She completed the degree in 2016 after gaining practical experience in the ZDF sports newsroom.^[2]^[6]