Athlete motivations

LUIS

Since I stopped doing my childhood sport, I tried different ones to keep moving and stay healthy. And even though each one gave me some comfort, they didn’t really make me feel truly fulfilled. 
What I have found in triathlon is something more honest and humbling: you start at the bottom in three different disciplines, and there is no way around that. 
Some days are uncomfortable and progress is uneven, but small steps matter because they are what, in the end, get you to your goals.

Susanne

I would never have won the Quadrathlon World Championship if I hadn’t made the decision to start in the first place. Through sport I keep discovering that I am capable of far more than I ever thought possible.

I’m curious to find out what else I can do. And having a coach by my side makes it even better.

Vincent

As a child I already dreamed of running a marathon one day… until I heard about the Ironman for the first time. After that, I simply couldn’t get the idea of doing an Ironman out of my head.

Covid brought the necessary boredom and time for training — and Marcel provided the structure for the training.

That’s how I was able to finish my first Ironman, and since then I haven’t spent a single day thinking about quitting triathlon.

SASCHA

Almost 10 years ago, the atmosphere on Rügen completely sparked something in me as a spectator. Marcel was competing as an athlete, and I could see the joy this sport gave him just by looking into his eyes. After that, I wanted to give it a try myself — and I actually made it all the way to the long distance.

To this day, it’s the atmosphere, the helpfulness, the pure joy, and the feeling of being part of one big family that give me goosebumps again and again at every race.

SEBASTIAN

As a child I was always driven and ambitious in sports. After years of running and looking for a new challenge, I eventually ended up in triathlon. I’m sure the myth of “Hawaii” and a midlife crisis also played their part.

What I love most is the variety, the fact that I keep improving — thanks to you — and the mutual support within the community. On top of that, it’s a great balance to work-related stress and allows me to eat as much as I want and burn my money in a meaningful way.

JULIA

I live by the motto “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone” — and what fits that better than an Ironman?!

I imagined myself sitting in a rocking chair at the age of 80, reflecting on my life, and I realized that an Ironman simply has to be part of my story. Anything is possible — and that’s exactly what I want to prove to myself.

Sport also helps me in every area of my life and makes me genuinely happy!

NICKLAS

I can no longer imagine a life without triathlon. This sport has shown me that with willpower, the readiness to endure pain, and the daily drive to become a little better, you can achieve anything.

But the most important part is the mental clarity that triathlon gives me — it helps me become a better person.

INGE

What I love about triathlon is the variety, the constant new challenges, pushing my limits, being active in nature, qualifying for races, proving endurance, having structure in everyday life, social contact with other athletes, and feeling close to the pros.

I enjoy both the training and the competitions.

DIRK

My passion for sports began during my studies, when a lecturer suggested the idea of participating together in a fun run. No sooner said than done—twelve weeks later, we started at the Berlin Marathon (back in 1994, that was still possible), and my passion for running was born. Unfortunately, I quickly realized that my body couldn’t handle it, which led me to triathlon. Here, I can fully satisfy my urge to move and embrace my love for new challenges, whether in training or in competition.

SEBASTIAN

I look in the mirror—a man with graying hair looks back at me on this rainy morning. Soon, I’ll head to physiotherapy again; this cervical syndrome has kept me in check for weeks. How could this have happened to me, this constant pain… Years of strength training, I was always diligent. Well, my body size has grown along with my professional success, probably also due to my fondness for pasta and good red wine…

A few months later, it’s cold—damn cold. My fingers are almost freezing to the handlebars of my old racing bike. Maybe it wasn’t my best idea to ride up the Jaufen Pass at the beginning of November. My lungs are wheezing, my legs hurt, my whole body is cramping. I just want to get back down to the valley, back to my camper’s tent. I can’t move, lying in pain in my warm sleeping bag, reading a book by Natascha Badmann. It’s about triathlon—a sport I’d never heard of before. It captivates and fascinates me; I can’t put it down…

Three years later, it’s a warm June evening. I’m running the last few meters, the Hamburg Town Hall surrounded by people cheering on the athletes awaits me. I am one of those about to cross the finish line… Tears stream down my face.

Why do I do triathlon? It’s a passion, a feeling of life that fills every fiber of my body. It’s a caress for my soul, an expansion of the mind… I look back with pride and humility and am happy to have become part of this journey to myself, which I enjoy anew every single day!

FRANZISKA

Ich bin noch gar nicht lange dabei. Und laufen fand ich eigentlich nie wirklich toll. Mehr als 5km hab ich nie geschafft. Vor 1,5 Jahren dann hab ich Marcel gefragt, ob ich es innerhalb von einem Jahr schaffen könnte einen Marathon zu laufen. Es gab zwar immer wieder Rückschläge aber dank des strukturierten Trainings hab ich mir bewiesen, dass ich das kann. Bin dann in diesem Jahr sogar 2 Marathon gelaufen und habe Gefallen an den längeren Distanzen gefunden. Mein nächstes Ziel ist dann eine deutlich bessere Zeit. Laufen in der Natur ist für mich wie eine kleine Auszeit, Stress ablassen, die Gedanken schweifen zu lassen und meine Grenzen auszutesten. 

MAIK

Because endurance sports are my counterbalance to an intense life between work and family – they boost my wellbeing, ground me, and I have never felt worse after a session than before.

Because I love the feeling of pushing my limits and getting the most out of my personal performance – embrace the pain.

Because I want to be a role model for my children (and later for my grandchildren): for health, discipline, and joy of life. And yes – quite consciously selfish, because I want to grow very old and stay healthy, so I can enjoy life with the coming generations for as long as possible. An elite VO₂max is the best foundation for that.

TABEA

I simply believe that it’s because, as a teenager, I was supported in competitive sports (long sprints and middle distance) and for a long time regretted that other things were more important to me back then. (Today, of course, I can understand that well.)

At 41, I thought: “Huh? Don’t regret it, just start again!” And suddenly, life became an adventure once more. I love competitions – both the small and the big ones – because they vividly remind me that I can’t make others slower. I can’t influence anything except myself, and this mindset helps me a lot in my daily interactions with my family and in life in general.

As a mother, sport also gives me back a structure that isn’t just tied to work and children, but also returns a great deal of self-determination to me. And in turn, that’s a benefit for everyone involved.

TOM

I started triathlon because of running. After completing my first half marathon and then my first marathon, I saw triathlon as the next step. I always had the Ironman in mind, thinking it was unreachable. So, my best friend and I decided to challenge ourselves and train directly for an Ironman within one year — a huge challenge.

It’s completely different from marathon training or running in general; it requires structure, discipline, and a lot of determination. But once you start, you can never stop!
Now that I’m deep into training, it still feels unreachable… but we’re getting there .

JÜRGEN

My triathlon “career” actually started in 1988 as a volunteer at the 5th German Championships in T1. By the way, Jürgen Zäck won back then. I was so impressed that I let the sport rest for 30 years to mentally prepare myself. During a local public transport strike 8 years ago, I discovered cycling for my commute out of necessity and grew to love it, because cycling was 40 minutes faster every day compared to taking the train or car, and I had a blast riding cross-country.

Then, one Saturday, I happened to zap past the Ironman Hawaii on TV and was hooked, remembering back 30 years and thinking—why not do it too? Problem: I was a world champion at bathing, but couldn’t swim. So, let’s go! As a late starter in sports in general, in my late 40s, it quickly became clear—I probably wouldn’t be at the top, but I could enjoy the journey in training and also the races. So I decided to only do beautiful races, preferably those that could be combined with a short vacation. Roth, San Francisco, Windsor, Oxford, Venice… The bucket list is still long. And because the race courses are so beautiful, I take my time and enjoy. Train hard – race easy :-) and simply for the pure joy of movement.

HENRIK

At 19, I stood at the starting line of my first marathon. At the finish, I realized how much endurance sports fulfill me: the long hours alone, the constant development, and the feeling of growing with each challenge.

At 26, I got my first road bike—and immediately entered my first bike races. In the early 2010s, I shifted my focus to triathlon, competed in many races, and finished two long-distance events. Today, I spend a lot of time on my road bike and gravel bike again, regularly participating in races in the Alps or low mountain ranges. The fascination for tough climbs and clear goals still accompanies me to this day.