Günther Weidlinger

Who is Günther Weidlinger?

Günther Weidlinger is an Austrian long-distance runner who is a former 3000 metres steeplechase specialist but now competes in the marathon.

He first made his mark in athletics as a junior athlete in European competitions: winning the steeplechase at the 1997 European Athletics Junior Championships and a silver medal at the 1997 European Cross Country Championships. He set a national record in the event in the final of the 1999 World Championships in Athletics and also reached the final at the 2000 Summer Olympics. He reached a number of major championship finals over the following five years and represented Austria at the 2004 Athens Olympics, as well as the 2003 and 2005 World Championships.

He began to focus on the 10,000 metres and road running in 2007. He won the silver at the 2007 European Cup 10000m and set a half marathon national record at the IAAF World Road Running Championships. Weidlinger won the 2008 Great Manchester Run in another national record time and ran in the 10,000 m at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He made his marathon debut in 2009 and broke the 23-year-old Austrian record in the marathon on his second attempt, running 2:10:47 at the Frankfurt Marathon. He won the 2009 Great Australian Run to set the 15 km national record.