Former rowing champion Lars Wichert once again proved his athletic prowess at the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii. Competing in the M35-39 age group, the 37-year-old from Hamburg secured the third spot with an impressive finish time of 8:36:17, earning him the bronze medal. China’s Miao Hao dominated the age group race with a time of 8:30:10, taking first place, while Neil Eddy from Great Britain finished second in 8:35:12.
Wichert, a former lightweight rower with multiple international titles, displayed exceptional strength on the bike, recording the fastest time in his age group. This performance set him up for a podium finish, although he slightly fell back to 14th place in his age group on the marathon stretch. After the race, Wichert shared on Instagram: “Had a good swim, gave it all alone on the bike with the fastest Agegroup-Bikesplit and the most honest race in the leading group. Dig deep on the run.”
Record-Breaking Performance in Hamburg
A few months before his success in Hawaii, Wichert set a new world record for age group athletes at the 2024 Ironman Hamburg. Finishing in 7:50:42, he broke the previous world record held by New Zealander Dan Plews (7:56:55) by more than six minutes. This remarkable feat was achieved thanks to Wichert’s dedicated preparation and extensive experience in endurance sports, as he completed the course of 3.8 km swimming, 180 km cycling, and 42.195 km running at an impressive pace.
Family Focus and Prioritizing Events in Germany
Now residing near Hamburg, Wichert has decided not to pursue further participation in Hawaii. Despite qualifying for the World Championships, he opted out, choosing instead to compete in 2024 Ironman events in Norway and Frankfurt. For Wichert, who works full-time at a triathlon magazine, sports remain a passion rather than a professional career path.
With his new world record in Hamburg and bronze in Hawaii, Wichert demonstrates that a strong foundation in rowing and a passion for endurance sports can lead to impressive achievements even after transitioning from a professional athletic career. The Ironman in Hawaii was further proof of this exceptional athlete’s strength and versatility.