The close of the competitive season often brings reflection,and for a number of German track and field athletes,it marks the end of a career. Following a year of meaningful performances – including World Championship and European Championship appearances – eleven athletes from the German Athletics Federation (DLV) have recently announced their retirement.The departures span a range of disciplines, from sprinting and decathlon to hurdles and distance running, signaling a transition period for GermanyS athletics program as it looks toward future competitions, including the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris. A full list of retiring athletes follows.
A year of thrilling competitions, medal moments, and dashed dreams has come to a close. Several German Athletics Federation (DLV) athletes will now be watching from the stands, as they’ve announced their retirement from competitive sports.
Jan-Henner Reitze
Lisa Mayer (Sprintteam Wetzlar)
Injuries have repeatedly hampered the sprinter’s career, but she leaves the sport with a distinguished record including a bronze medal in the 4x100m relay at the 2023 World Athletics Championships and a European Championship title from 2022.
Kai Kazmirek (LG Rhein-Wied)
After 15 years in the decathlon, Kai Kazmirek is retiring following two Olympic appearances and seven top-eight finishes at major championships, highlighted by a bronze medal at the 2017 World Championships.
Tim Nowak (SSV Ulm 1846)
Another decathlete is hanging up his spikes, Tim Nowak, who claimed the German Championship title in Dresden with a score of 8,140 points. He also boasts two seventh-place finishes at the World Indoor Championships on his international resume.
Neele Eckhardt-Noack (LG Göttingen)
A knee injury has forced triple jumper Neele Eckhardt-Noack to retire, ending a career that included a personal best of 14.52 meters and a bronze medal at the 2021 European Indoor Championships.
Anna Gehring (Milers Colonia 2020)
Anna Gehring, a two-time silver medalist at the European Cross Country Championships and the 2018 German champion over 10,000 meters, will continue running but no longer as a professional athlete.
Timo Benitz (LG Farbtex Nordschwarzwald)
The 1,500-meter specialist consistently performed at a high level, achieving seventh-place finishes at three European Championships. His personal best of 3:34.87 was set in Hengelo, Netherlands, in 2017.
Marvin Schlegel (LAC Erdgas Chemnitz)
The 400-meter runner, a three-time German champion, is retiring at the age of 27 with a personal best of 45.76 seconds.
Jonas Wagner (Dresdner SC 1898)
A recent injury dashed Jonas Wagner’s hopes of competing at the Olympic Games in Paris. The two-time German Indoor Champion has decided not to attempt another comeback.
Laura Gröll (LG Stadtwerke München)
Injuries have plagued the high jumper throughout her career. Laura Gröll, the 2020 German Indoor Champion, is retiring at the age of 27.
Monika Zapalska (TV Wattenscheid 01)
The 31-year-old is retiring from the hurdles, bringing an end to a career that saw her win the German Indoor Championship in 2023 and represent her country on numerous occasions.
Sven Wagner (Königsteiner LV)
The middle-distance runner is ending his career at the age of 23, having twice competed at the U23 European Championships.
Hinweis: The list is not exhaustive.
