7 July 2026

Photo: finisherpix

Marie Hielscher at the Ironman in Hawaii

Marie Hielscher, a lecturer and graduate mathematician in the professorship of Mathematics and Statistics, regularly competes in national and international triathlons. In this interview, she offers insights into her life, which is shaped by teaching and training.

Marie Hielscher, who holds a degree in mathematics, is not only a lecturer in the Department of Statistics and Mathematics in the School of Economics under Prof. Michael Merz, but also a passionate triathlete. This year, she placed third at the Ironman in Lanzarote and first at the German Middle-Distance Championships. In an interview, she discusses the synergies between these two very different areas of her life, how she personally grows from them, and what she passes on to her students.

Ms. Hielscher, you’re an avid competitive athlete and are competing in three grueling triathlons this season: You’ve already completed two races, and now the Ostseeman is coming up. When did you realize that sports were an important part of your life, and how long have you been training for grueling competitions?

Sports have always been a part of my life. As a child, I competed in many swimming meets, and about 15 years ago I started doing triathlons after stepping in as a swimmer for a relay team. But I’ve only been training as competitively as I do now for the past seven or eight years.

What was your greatest athletic achievement?

Although I’ve been able to celebrate many truly wonderful victories, qualifying for the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii and finishing seventh there definitely feels like my greatest achievement.

Have you ever experienced an athletic setback, and if so, how did you overcome it?

In my experience, progress is never linear; I constantly face small setbacks. Workouts that don’t feel right, race performances that don’t live up to what they could have been. And especially in long-distance triathlon, something almost always goes wrong. But at the same time, that’s the lesson I’ve learned from it: Perseverance pays off!

What parallels are there between mentors in the athletic and academic spheres?

Fundamentally, it’s important to have people who believe in you, especially when you yourself don’t—for example, during a setback. I also find advice that takes my individual situation into account particularly helpful. I think this applies to both athletic and academic goals.

Every competition is a peak athletic performance. How do you manage to find the energy and time for your job as a lecturer and for disciplined training?

It definitely helps that I truly enjoy doing both. But the people around me also support me with a lot of understanding and consideration—not least Prof. Merz, who gives me the freedom to do my work in the evenings or on weekends when that fits better with my training schedule.

What synergies do you see between teaching at the university and sports?

Sports definitely serve as a good balance to all the theoretical work. The physical exertion also helps me let go of thoughts and problems in between, so I can pick them up again later with a clear head. At the same time, training has taught me to concentrate under pressure for many hours at a time. That definitely helps, especially during three-hour lectures on Fridays at eight o’clock.

Through your classes in the introductory math course, you’re shaping young students who are just starting their bachelor’s degree in business administration. Aside from the academic content, what do you give these students to take with them on their life’s journey

Math isn’t exactly known as everyone’s favorite subject. But I try to encourage students to see that very fact as a challenge and not to get discouraged by setbacks. Often, it’s not about being able to do everything right away, but about finding your own way to reach your goal.

What athletic achievement is currently the most important goal on your bucket list?

Hawaii has really impressed me. The idea of perhaps even ranking among the top three long-distance triathletes in the world there is definitely on my mind.

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