A real ironman among the law students

It is the best-known and most prestigious long-distance triathlon: the Ironman in Hawaii. A 3.8 km swim, followed by over 180 km on the bike and then a marathon with a running distance of almost 42 km, all in temperatures of over 30 degrees, strong winds and high humidity. The Ironman has been taking place in Hawaii, the birthplace of this triathlon, since 1978 - this year for the men on October 26. 23-year-old Finn Große-Freese, a student at the University of Bayreuth, will be taking part. He came to the University of Bayreuth in 2021 to study sports economics, but switched to law in the summer semester of 2024. He is the youngest German professional athlete to compete in Kailua-Kona at the end of the month.

In an interview with UBTaktuell, the Rostock-born cyclist shows no signs of nervousness ahead of his Hawaii debut. “If my bike arrives in Hawaii in one piece, that's half the battle,” he says confidently. He qualified for the Ironman in Kailua-Kona at the European Championships in Frankfurt - he finished in ninth place. The year before, he finished fourth at the Ironman in Italy, having only competed as a professional for the first time in Hamburg in June 2023. “There's still something in it for the Ironman in Hawaii,” says Finn. His goal is to finish in the top ten among the 55 qualified professionals out of a total of almost 2,000 starters, including four other German professional athletes.

Finn started swimming in the fourth grade and switched to triathlon in the eighth grade. Then, in tenth grade, he switched to the sports high school in Neubrandenburg, where he studied triathlon intensively at this “elite school of sport” of the German Olympic Sports Confederation. When asked whether Finn prefers this discipline in triathlon because of his early start in swimming, he answers in the negative. “I don't enjoy swimming as much now because I've been doing it for so long. I currently perform best on the bike, but I see my strength in running,” says the German Champion in "middle distance".

Finn has been in Hawaii since 10 October so that he can acclimatize in time for the Ironman: Temperature, humidity and, above all, the time difference. For every hour of time difference, you should allow one day for acclimatization. He also has to adapt his diet to the higher temperatures and the associated loss of electrolytes. Training will continue in Hawaii to ensure optimal preparation for his Hawaii debut. Finn therefore feels no excitement or pressure. But mental strength is not only important before the start. “At the Ironman, you're on the road for over seven hours, so you have to keep yourself mentally occupied,” says Finn. He himself goes through song lyrics in his head - or runs through the final marathon in his mind. Anything that helps him get through the desert and lava fields to the finish line. The day after the World Championships, it's time to head back to Germany.

And then? Back to the law? What does the everyday life of a student professional athlete look like? “I try to get through my studies in the winter semester and then focus on sport again in the summer semester,” explains Finn. Because that's when the new season starts and he sometimes has to travel a long way for competitions. “My studies already bring structure to my everyday life,” says Finn. He trains for around thirty hours a week and attends lectures at lunchtime after training or in the evening. Sport is also on the agenda at weekends. Finn doesn't have time for a normal student life, but he says that as “more of a loner”, he focuses entirely on his passion for sport: “My goal is to be able to make a living from sport at some point.” Because at the moment, without solvent sponsors, the family still has to pay a lot out of their own pockets. This includes the trip to Hawaii, which cost almost 10,000 euros. Finn still wants to complete his studies, for a plan B. A return to Bayreuth is therefore to be expected and perhaps the University of Bayreuth will soon be able to welcome a genuine Ironman World Champion back to campus.