2024
Breakthrough and European final
In Brussels, Velten ran 8:20.94, more than six seconds faster than ever before. Weeks later he stood in the European final in Rome and took national silver.
3000 m Steeplechase
Velten
Schneider 3000
Embrace the journey
Professional runner. Paris 2024 Olympian. Join me on my journey to LA 2028.
3000 m
The distance
8:18.12
Personal best
2024
Olympics · Paris
2028
On the way · Los Angeles
Who is Velten?
Obstacles are the job
Velten Schneider, born in Leonberg in 1999 and raised in Renningen, is a professional track and field athlete in the 3000 m steeplechase. It all started at SpVgg Renningen, and since 2016 he has run for VfL Sindelfingen. In 2024 he stood on the start line at the Olympic Games in Paris. Now the road continues: to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Velten coaches himself: he decides what to train, when, and how. Alongside the sport he studies medicine, and at home he is the eldest of four brothers.
He was shaped by his longtime coach Harald Olbrich, who passed away in early 2021.
Facts
The fact box
- Born
- 21 Aug 1999 in Leonberg
- Home
- Renningen (Baden-Württemberg)
- Event
- 3000 m steeplechase
- Club
- VfL Sindelfingen (since 2016, previously SpVgg Renningen)
- Coaching
- Self-coached, shaped by Harald Olbrich († 2021)
The event
What is the 3000 m steeplechase?
Seven and a half laps, 35 barriers, 7 of them with a water pit. The barriers do not fall: hit one badly and you lose strength and rhythm.
The world's best cover the distance in around eight minutes. That takes both: the engine of a 5000 m runner and the technique of a hurdler.
The story so far
Highs and lows
2024
The Olympics in Paris
The Olympic debut at the Stade de France: 8:25.75 in the heat, qualified via the world rankings.
2025
Personal bests
8:18.12 over the 3000 m steeplechase in Dessau and 7:53.58 over 3000 m indoors in Ghent.
2025/26
The injury
A broken foot in winter, muscle trouble in spring: a season that demanded patience.
Personal bests
In black and white
| Event | Best | Date / venue |
|---|---|---|
| 3000 m steeplechase | 8:18.12 | 21 Jun 2025 · Dessau |
| 3000 m (indoor) | 7:53.58 | 1 Feb 2025 · Ghent (BEL) |
| 10 km road | 28:40 | 2026 |
On the way to the next personal best.
The timeline
The road to LA 2028
From the first laps in Renningen to the 2028 Olympic Games: this is Velten's road. Stops with results can be opened, the current year is expanded.
- 2016 SpVgg Renningen → VfL Sindelfingen First steps in athletics at his home club, then the move to Sindelfingen.
-
2018 U20 World Championships First international championships: a start at the U20 Worlds over 3000 m steeplechase.
- U20 World Championships 3000 m steeplechase · Participant
-
2021 U23 European Championships A start at the U23 European Championships. The same year, Velten lost his longtime coach Harald Olbrich.
- U23 European Championships 3000 m steeplechase · Participant
-
2022 National bronze A first medal at the German Championships over 3000 m steeplechase.
- German Championships 3000 m steeplechase · Bronze
-
2023 Indoor national bronze Bronze at the German Indoor Championships over 3000 m.
- German Indoor Championships 3000 m (indoor) · Bronze
-
2024 Paris Olympics Breakthrough in Brussels, a European final in Rome, national silver, and the Olympic debut in Paris.
The year that changed everything: 8:20.94 in Brussels, more than six seconds faster than ever before, beating the European Championships standard and the German Olympic confirmation mark. Then the European final in Rome, national silver, and the Olympic debut at the Stade de France: 8:25.75 in the heat, qualified via the world rankings.
- Olympic Games, heat · Paris (FRA) 3000 m steeplechase · 8:25.75
- German Championships 3000 m steeplechase · Silver
- European Championships, final · Rome (ITA) 3000 m steeplechase · Finalist
- Meeting in Brussels · Brussels (BEL) 3000 m steeplechase · 8:20.94
-
2025 Personal best 8:18.12 Faster than ever: 8:18.12 in Dessau, plus an indoor 3000 m best of 7:53.58 in Ghent.
Now within striking distance of the world's best.
- Meeting in Dessau · Dessau 3000 m steeplechase · 8:18.12 PB
- Indoor meeting · Ghent (BEL) 3000 m (indoor) · 7:53.58 PB
- 2025/26 Injury and rehab A broken foot in winter, muscle trouble in spring: months without racing, filled with rehab and rebuilding.
-
2026 The comeback Back on the start line: 8:24.56 over the steeplechase and a 28:40 road 10K.
Not every season runs in a straight line. 2026 is the year of fighting back, eyes fixed forward.
- Season's best 3000 m steeplechase · 8:24.56
- 10 km road race 10 km road · 28:40 PB
-
2027 The Worlds season The World Championships as the interim goal, and the season that lays the groundwork for Olympic qualification.
Chasing standards, collecting ranking points, building racing sharpness.
- 2028 Los Angeles The 2028 Olympic Games: this is where the journey leads. Come along.
Projects
Beyond the track
Workshops, appearances, collaborations: what moves Velten outside of racing.
Speaker and talk appearances
Talks, panels, and school visits: insights from elite sport, from handling setbacks to the road towards Los Angeles 2028.
Social media collaborations
Joint formats on Instagram and Strava: content from training, camps, and racing, tailored to your brand.
Partners
Together to LA 2028
Training camps, gear, race travel: the road to the 2028 Games is run as a team. As a partner you are part of it, with visibility on the track, on this website, and on social media.
Contact
Let's talk
Sponsorship, talks, press, race requests, or simply support: pick your topic and your message lands with the right person straight away.