Tim Hellwig

Tim Hellwig had his life change forever when he became an Olympic gold medallist in Paris as part of Germany’s victorious mixed relay team.

It was an unexpected win for Hellwig, who, despite some impressive results, was still relatively unknown and now has one of the biggest honours in the sport to his name.

Hellwig was born in the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate and got into triathlon from a young age.

He progressed through the youth and junior ranks and became German Junior champion in back-to-back years against stiff competition in 2017 and 2018 to really underscore his promise.

It was 2021 which really gave triathlon watchers the nod to sit up and take notice.

First, Hellwig translated that junior success into the senior ranks, becoming German Senior champion.

Then, in a real shock, he claimed a WTCS victory in his home race of Hamburg. There was a weakened field with many athletes racing supertri that weekend, but it was still a truly outstanding achievement.

A relatively quiet period followed before he began to seriously compete against established stars again in 2023.

Hellwig claimed victories in both the African Triathlon Cup and the Asia legs of the World Cup, and was part of the German team that won the mixed relay World Championships, again on that fabled course in Hamburg.

He also, tellingly perhaps, was part of the German team that won the Paris test event in the mixed relay, an omen of what was to come as he was part of the team that took a thrilling gold in the French capital.

Hellwig is making his supertri debut in 2024.