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Running talent Tom Stephan: On the way to the U18 championship and the Olympics!
Tom Stephan, 17, from Lilienthal, is aiming for an Olympic medal in running and impresses with his best times and hard work.
Running talent Tom Stephan: On the way to the U18 championship and the Olympics!
Something is happening in Lilienthal! Tom Stephan, a 17-year-old runner from TV Lilienthal, has big plans. He is currently preparing to fight for the title of German champion in the U18 over 3000 meters in Bochum-Wattenscheid and has everything firmly in mind. He recently set an impressive personal best of 8:26.84 minutes in Berlin-Lichterfelde, which catapulted him to second place on the German annual best list, behind only Maximilian Rath, who ran the fastest time of the year with 8:22.33 minutes. This is reported by the Weser courier.
With this impressive performance, Tom also qualified for the European Youth Olympic Festival in North Macedonia. The pressure is increasing because a duel between him and Rath is already in the air. “The challenge is big, but I’m ready,” said the young athlete. Tom trains up to seven times a week and often twice a week to achieve his goal.
From the beginning to competitive sport
Tom began his running career when he was just six years old and was trained at the TV Lilienthal club. Now he has also been appointed to the Lower Saxony running team, which is another step towards his Olympic dreams. Coach Jan Petermann emphasizes that Tom has become more and more professional in recent years: “His commitment is remarkable.”
He has already made a name for himself and is currently in 26th place in the international U18 annual best list. Swedish runner Sebastian Lörstad leads with an incredible time of 7:54.69 minutes. Tom's role model is Mo Farah, whose career inspires him.
Financial challenges
Despite his successes, Tom faces financial challenges. The cost of running shoes – between 100 and 200 euros per pair – as well as entry fees, travel and training camps put a lot of strain on his family. Sponsors have been few and far between, which doesn't make the situation any easier. “It would be nice to get more support,” explains coach Petermann, who hopes that the TV Lilienthal athletes will receive more attention.
“The motivation from sport remains high despite the hurdles,” says Tom. His best sporting times, including a 1:59.72 minute over 800 meters in Delmenhorst, impressively demonstrate his talent. Other personal best times are evidence of his hard work: 2:02.06 minutes in Scheeßel and 2:03.01 minutes in Verden, all set in the U18 age category.
Sport as an emotional engine
Competitive sport not only gives Tom a feeling of success, but also important skills such as concentration and stress management. This is particularly encouraged in school sports, where children are encouraged to try different sports and deal with failure. Like that German school portal explains, role models are crucial in sport. Tom's goals are ambitious and he realizes that the path to competitive sport is not easy - it brings joy and challenges.
If everything goes according to plan, Tom Stephan could become the next Olympian. On July 10th, 2025 he will give everything for his dream of the Olympics, and we can't wait to see where his journey will take him.