Thriving at the Heart of Triathlon Life
Here Comes Leonie Konczalla, Hamburg's Iron-Willed Triathlete
Leonie Konczalla, Hamburg's professional triathlete, glides past the 24km marker of the Ironman run with a radiant smile and effortless stride. With a cool headband, start number F23, a mirrored sunglasses, and bright yellow running shoes, she cruises by, barely Visible after hours of relentless movement since early morning. With over 200km already covered in swimming, cycling, and running, she embarks on her penultimate run - taking aim at a new personal best in the 42km marathon.
Just as a storm cloud descends, it begins to rain again. Much like the morning, when a thunderstorm delayed the start, dark clouds and heavy rain pelt the competitors. On the slippery trail through Alster Park, Konczalla navigates the puddles with an unyielding determination.
On Sunday, June 1st, 2025, Leonie Konczalla crosses the Ironman Europe Championship finish line in Hamburg after more than 225km total distance with a time of 8 hours and 43 minutes. Among the professional women, she finishes fifth with a running time of 2 hours, 53 minutes, and 51 seconds, placing fourth best in the running category.
The Ironman, an American-originated triathlon series, is held globally in various formats and distances. In 2025, the race took place in Hamburg for the eighth consecutive year, still as a long-distance event. For the participants, the challenge was clear: 3.8km swim, 180km bike ride, followed by a grueling 42km marathon.
Leonie Konczalla: From Tracks to Triathlons
Fifteen years ago, Konczalla moved from Osnabrück to Hamburg for her medical studies. To avoid running alone around the Alster, she joined various running groups but was drawn to the triathlon group of the university's sports association by a classmate.
"Then I first looked it up on Wikipedia: What is a triathlon?" recalls the 34-year-old. "I thought 'No, they're too brutal, I'm not doing that.' In the end, I let myself be convinced by my training group, taking part only in the running training at first and eventually in all three disciplines."
During her studies at the University of Hamburg, Konczalla spent her days at the Eppendorf University Hospital. Her evenings and weekends were dedicated to triathlon training throughout Hamburg.
"Then I first looked it up on Wikipedia: What is a triathlon?"
She remembers the swimming training at Bartholomaüustherme vividly, as her biggest challenge: learning to swim freestyle.
"That first year, I went to the swimming training every Saturday. It was literally a struggle every time." Now, she can laugh about those early swimming troubles.
In Itzehoe, Konczalla completed her first triathlon in 2012. She rented an oversized wetsuit for the occasion. Her friends warned her, "You'll sweat yourself dry!" She arrived at the finish line safely, but when race day approached, she had managed to borrow a suitable suit.
Combining all three disciplines for the first time was challenging, but the sense of accomplishment was worth it, recalls the athlete. "Being able to do it all, led to me jumping fully into triathlon."
From Training to Clinics
Today, Konczalla is an Ironman Professional Athlete, but her primary profession involves working as a physician in rehabilitation and sports medicine at the BG Klinikum Hamburg. In addition, she has served as a team physician for the German Swimming Association at sports events like the 2024 Paris Olympics for the past four years.
Balancing her racing and professional life, Konczalla schedules her training around her work schedule, commuting on her racing bike whenever possible. In the mornings, she incorporates training sessions into her daily commute. Evening practices after work are common for her.
In her job as a doctor, she can draw upon her athletic experience, while in sports, she can only apply her medical knowledge to a limited extent. "I think I am my own worst advisor. Whenever I have a problem, I shrink it down or think of all possible scenarios," she says.
Last year, Konczalla started the Ironman in Barcelona but had to withdraw from the cycling segment due to lung problems. Her friends convinced her to quit, she recalls, "I could tell it wasn't going well, but I couldn't manage to handle what was happening."
The Loud and Long Ironman Hamburg
Until 2020, Konczalla mainly competed in triathlons with shorter or medium distances and discovered that longer races also brought her joy. Triathlon was a significant part of her life similar to her career at the UKE.
With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Konczalla temporarily put sports on the backburner. "Somehow, I just couldn't make myself feel free anymore because I thought it wasn't important at that time." As the situation improved, she realized how much she missed sports as an outlet and decided to challenge herself with a new long-distance Ironman.
"On that day I thought: I'm doing exactly what I want to do right now."
In 2021, she signed up for her first long-distance Ironman and deliberately chose the local event. Although it rained all day, Konczalla discovered what she was searching for on the long course. "On that day I thought: I'm doing exactly what I want to do right now." "I realized, that's exactly what I want to continue doing."
Four years later, she competed in the hometown race again. The 2025 race, she described as "a loud and loving Hamburg." The cheering crowds along the marathon route were her favorite part.
"Every 500 meters, I heard people shout my name," she recalls. "On the marathon course, all groups that have shaped my 15 years in Hamburg were there." Counting laps was not necessary - the 42km flew by effortlessly.
Hawaii Awaits in October
With a fifth-place finish among professional women at her sixth start in the Ironman long-distance, Konczalla qualified for the Ironman World Championship for Women on Hawaii in October.
She has previously competed in Kona, having earned her qualification in Frankfurt in 2023. The Alster transforms into the Kailua Bay, while the cycling course becomes the Queen-Ka'ahumanu-Highway.
According to Konczalla, the Ironman in Hawaii is in a league of its own, with one notable exception: the energizing and loud atmosphere along the Hamburg racecourse remains unique in Hawaii - especially at the finish line.
In the midst of her triathlon career, Leonie Konczalla takes time to analyze her performances and strategies, applying the principles learned from sports-analysis to enhance her training and competition.
With her sights set on the prestigious Ironman World Championship for Women in Hawaii, Konczalla is endeavoring to refine her skills in swimming, cycling, and running, eager to showcase her perseverance on the global stage.
