Search
shop

Olympic triathlon champion undergoes knee surgery after racing through the pain to Paris 2024 glory

Tim Hellwig was part of Germany's victorious Olympic Mixed Relay team but has just gone under the knife
Last updated -
Get the ultimate guide to destination racing

Tim Hellwig won a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics as part of the German Mixed Team Relay and impressed in his debut Supertri season, finishing third overall and winning the men’s bike discipline.

Ranked the world’s 29th best triathlete, Hellwig also earned his first podium finish in Supertri in Toulouse and finished in the top five in every race he ran.

And he has now revealed how he managed to do all of that despite carrying a meniscus injury all year long which eventually forced him to go under the knife.

Hellwig vows to come back stronger

But while the 25-year-old is now in rehab after undergoing a knee operation – he is planning to come back even stronger before the year is over.

Hellwig, who posted a picture of himself on crutches on his Instagram, said: “After struggling with a meniscus tear throughout the Olympic year and seeing no improvement despite rehab and rest, I had to undergo knee surgery last week.

“Fortunately, everything went well, and I’m now back on one foot. It will take some time before I can return to training and racing, but I’m hopeful I’ll be back on the race circuit later this year.

Tim Hellwig Mixed Team Relay Paris 2024
Tim Hellwig at the Mixed Team Relay in Paris [Photo credit: World Triathlon]

German star thanks support team

“A huge thank you to the doctors, my team, and my sponsors for all their support. I’ll be working hard to come back stronger than before.”

Hellwig is one of triathlon’s brightest stars and has been no stranger to podium finishes throughout his career, so all eyes will be on his recovery and return date.

Paul Brown
Written by
Paul Brown
Discover more
Laura Siddall Challenge Roth 2025 finish line
PremiumLaura Siddall: 10 things I’ve learned from my professional triathlon career
Ruth Astle finishing IRONMAN Vitoria 2024
PremiumHow to cope with a DNF: Elite athletes share their stories
PremiumIs your evening workout routine wrecking your recovery? Expert physiologist on how to improve recovery and what NOT to do
Caroline Pohle Lena Meissner ironman 703 jonkoping sprint 2025
PremiumTriathlon’s mid-season report card: Tim Don on who’s raising the bar this triathlon race season
03/07/2025 - Tour de France 2025 - Grand départ Jour 2 - Lille - Présentation des équipes -Jonas Vingegaard (Team Visma-Lease a Bike)
PremiumWhat triathletes can learn from the Tour de France pro peloton
latest News
Alex Yee supertri Neom 2024 win Photo credit: Darren Wheeler | supertri
Supertri Toronto 2025: How to watch live as Alex Yee makes his triathlon return
Dan Lorang Head of Performance BORA - hansgrohe
Touching and heartfelt tribute from Anne Haug’s coach after she announces triathlon retirement
Sam Long - T100 San Francisco 2024 bike
‘No No No’ – culture shock and bike crash for American star Sam Long in Italy
Georgia Taylor Brown wins supertri Chicago 2024 photo credit supertri
Georgia Taylor-Brown on enjoying her busy “year off” and wanting “to go out on a bit of a high”
challenge roth race ranger
Challenge Roth publish RaceRanger anti-drafting data from both pro races in a first for triathlon
triathlon on your terms
Never miss out with our triathlon alerts & digest. Get a dose of adventure & inspiration with Boundless.
The 247 Group

The home of endurance sports

TRI247-LOGO_Primary-Black_RGB-1

CHOOSE YOUR MEMBERSHIP TO BECOME PART OF SOMETHING EPIC

We’re on a mission to elevate the world of endurance sport, becoming your go-to resource for expert training tips and inspiration, unbiased reporting and creating a platform for grassroots voices. But we can’t do it without you on board! Choose a TRI247+ membership option below and become part of something epic.

£7.95/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

100+ new articles/month

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

£47.95/year
£95.40/year

50% Discount

100+ new articles/month

Unlimited access. No ads. A whole library of tips, advice and inspiration at your finger tips, and the chance to shape the future of triathlon journalism.

You’ll also gain access to our other premium websites:

Have an account? Sign in

Share to...