This weekend sees the welcome return to triathlon action of Justus Nieschlag – after nearly nine months on the sidelines.
The German won on his 70.3 debut in 2022 after moving up from short course, followed that with another victory in his first race the next year at 70.3 Lanzarote and wasn’t outside the top six in six races in 2024, including a podium at T100 Lake Las Vegas.
But for a long time, 2025 was an unexplained struggle.
When training stops working
Nieschlag’s profile was never in doubt. On his day, he had already shown he could compete at the highest level. What made the situation so difficult was the absence of a clear reason for the decline.
“He was always an athlete with high potential,” his coach Dan Lorang tells us. “And then suddenly, no matter what he did in training, it didn’t work – especially on the bike.
“We were really frustrated,” Lorang says. “Especially him.”
A diagnosis that changed everything
Eventually, the underlying issue became clear: a problem with oxygen delivery to both legs – something that explained the inconsistent performance but also presented a stark choice.
The solution was surgical. And the risk was significant.
“He had an operation on both legs,” Lorang explains, a rare procedure for a young, otherwise healthy person. “If he wasn’t doing elite sport, he would be healthy. So taking that decision – the surgery on both legs – that needs courage.”
For Nieschlag, the choice came down to belief in unfinished business.
“He said, ‘I still have some years left. I still feel I want to do it,’” Lorang recalls. “So he took the risk.
“He got my full respect for that,” Lorang adds. “Because with every surgery, you have a big risk.”
This was about reclaiming the possibility of being the athlete he believed he could still be.
Relief – and a reset
The surgeries went well and Nieschlag had to be patient in the initial recovery phase but thankfully the last few months have seen him training again and feeling normal again.
“Finally we found out what was wrong,” Lorang adds. “And now he’s really happy and in a good mood – he’s just back to being an athlete.”
Writing ahead of his comeback at IRONMAN 70.3 Aix-en-Provence on Sunday, Nieschlag posted on Instagram: “Finally race week again. Feels kinda weird not having raced for such a long time. Training has been so much fun lately and I’m just excited to be back on a start line.
“Honestly, I have no idea where I stand right now – but that’s what makes it exciting🙏”
A return to Olympic-distance racing is unlikely. Instead, the focus is shifting towards middle distance, with the possibility of long distance further down the line.
“For sure not back to Olympic distance,” Lorang confirms. “But middle distance now – and then we see where it goes.
“We’ll hopefully read more about him again in the coming months.”
Nieschlag’s story is not just about recovery. It’s about refusing to accept unexplained decline as a final answer.
“He has an impressive power to come back,” Lorang says. “And a real love for the sport.”
