Triathlon legend on retirement ‘death’ and the challenging transition from PRO sport
Sebastian Kienle is one of triathlon’s all-time greats, and the legendary German has now spoken out about how he’s been finding the transition into retirement.
A former IRONMAN World Champion, the 40-year-old decided to say goodbye to the professional circuit in 2023.
But like many ex-pros, he’s still been keen to keep on top of his fitness and has found new enjoyment in the trend-setting HYROX events.
Back in November of last year, ‘Sebi’ topped the 40-44 Age Group category of the fitness competition in its Hamburg edition, finishing 14th overall out of around 8,500 athletes in a time of 1:04:35.
And it’s advice from HYROX co-founder Mo Fuerste which Kienle says has really resonated with him in recent months.
“Professional athletes die twice”
Writing on his Instagram account, Kienle reflected on 2024, his first full-year of retirement, and some key advice that had helped his transition away from the world of pro triathlon.
He said: “Earlier this year [2024], I had the fortunate opportunity to meet Mo Fuerste, a former field hockey player and co-founder of HYROX (he is currently a very busy man).
“During our conversation, he shared a sentiment that resonated with my experiences over the past year: ‘Professional athletes die twice.’
“This notion describes the sense of loss I often felt—not the thrill of embarking on a new venture, but the sorrow of concluding my life as a professional athlete.”
Excitement for the new year
Kienle notes that he was lucky enough to choose when he retired – at the time describing it as “a relief” that he no longer had to find ways to compete with the likes of Gustav Iden and Magnus Ditlev.
That choice meant that when he left pro triathlon, the door was firmly shut behind him – unlike for other athletes: “I can only imagine the emotions of those compelled to retire unexpectedly; I was fortunate to have the choice.
“I get why athletes like Lindsey Vonn [Alpine skier] decide to make a comeback long after retiring.
“I’ve been fortunate to receive great support from my partners, whether through HYROX, gravel racing, or opportunities to share my knowledge as an TV expert or speaker.
“Despite that, the transition has been more challenging than anticipated.
“Nevertheless, I’m more excited about 2025 than I was about 2024. I wish you all a great start to the new year.”
What is HYROX?
HYROX is a fitness event that seeks to combine running and functional workout stations, with participants generally running 1km, completing a workout station and repeating eight times.
The workout stations include various workouts such as SkiErg, Farmers Carry, Rowing and Sled Push and Pull.
