Normann Stadler (Photo courtesy Commerzbank Triathlon Team)

MEDIA RELEASE

Normann Stadler has announced the end of his professional triathlon career, four weeks after undergoing heart surgery in Germany.

Stadler was on hand at the recent Frankfurter Sparkasse Ironman European Championship, where he was interviewed during the national television coverage.

“I am flattered that so many people believe in my comeback,” Stadler said in a release Monday. “Nevertheless, I know that I wouldn’t be able to achieve a world class level again.”

The 38-year-old athlete is the only German to win the Ironman World Championship twice – he took the title in 2004 and 2006.

In his final appearance at Kona, Stadler crossed the finish line arm-in-arm with another two-time champion, Tim DeBoom (2001 and 2002). The pair of athletes shared a time of 8:49:26, giving them 32nd and 33rd overall.

Immediately after that race, DeBoom also said he was done with the Kona race, although he continues to compete in other triathlons.