Olympic Games · Paris 2024
The Olympic debut at the Stade de France: 8:25.75 in the heat — qualified via the world rankings.
3000 m Steeplechase
Velten
Schneider 3000
Paris 2024 Olympian · European Championships finalist Rome 2024 · German Championships silver 2024
Professional runner. Paris 2024 Olympian. Next goal: Los Angeles 2028.
3000 m
The distance
8:18.12
Personal best
2024
Olympics · Paris
2028
The goal · 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. He has run for VfL Sindelfingen since 2016 — it all began at SpVgg Renningen. In 2024 he stood on the start line at the Olympic Games in Paris; now everything points towards Los Angeles 2028.
Away from the track, Velten studies medicine at Saarland University — lecture hall and track run in parallel. At home he is the eldest of four brothers.
He was shaped by his longtime coach Harald Olbrich, who passed away in early 2021. Today he works with Leo Monz-Dietz — and manages much of his training himself.
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
- Leo Monz-Dietz, largely self-coached — shaped by Harald Olbrich († 2021)
- Second track
- Human medicine, Saarland University
The event
What is the 3000 m steeplechase?
Seven and a half laps, 35 obstacles — seven of them water jumps: the steeplechase combines middle-distance speed with jumps over solid barriers that do not fall over. Every mistake costs strength, rhythm, or more.
The world's best cover the distance in around eight minutes. To last here you have to train both: the engine of a 5000 m runner and the technique of a hurdler.
Career
The early milestones
- 2016SpVgg Renningen → VfL Sindelfingen
First steps in athletics at his home club, then the move to Sindelfingen.
- 2018U20 World Championships
First international championships at junior level — over 3000 m steeplechase.
- 2021U23 European Championships
A start at the U23 Europeans — the same year Velten lost his longtime coach Harald Olbrich.
- 2022National bronze
First medal at the German Championships over 3000 m steeplechase.
Results
The big moments
European Championships · Rome 2024
A finalist at the Stadio Olimpico — his first major international championships, weeks after the breakthrough.
German Championships
Silver in 2024 and bronze in 2022 over 3000 m steeplechase — plus indoor bronze over 3000 m in 2023.
Personal bests
Black on volt
| Event | Best | Date / venue |
|---|---|---|
| 3000 m steeplechase | 8:18.12 | 21 Jun 2025 · Dessau |
| 3000 m (indoor) | 7:53.58 | 1 Feb 2025 · Gent (BEL) |
| 2000 m steeplechase | 5:28.41 | 11 Sep 2022 |
| 5000 m | 13:56.21 | 2023 |
| 1500 m | 3:44.09 | 2024 |
| 1500 m (indoor) | 3:46.30 | 12 Feb 2023 |
| 10 km road | 28:40 | 2026 |
Results
Milestones & results
The races and championships that matter — including heats and the days that didn't go to plan.
| Date | Competition | Event | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Season's best Return to racing | 3000 m steeplechase | 8:24.56 |
| 2026 | 10 km road race | 10 km road | 28:40 PB |
| 21 Jun 2025 | Meeting in Dessau · Dessau Personal best | 3000 m steeplechase | 8:18.12 PB |
| 1 Feb 2025 | Indoor meeting · Gent (BEL) Indoor personal best | 3000 m (indoor) | 7:53.58 PB |
| 5 Aug 2024 | Olympic Games, heat · Paris (FRA) Olympic debut at the Stade de France | 3000 m steeplechase | 8:25.75 |
| 2024 | German Championships | 3000 m steeplechase | Silver |
| Jun 2024 | European Championships, final · Rom (ITA) First major international championships | 3000 m steeplechase | Finalist |
| 26 May 2024 | Meeting in Brussels · Brüssel (BEL) The breakthrough: personal best improved by more than six seconds, beating the European Championships standard and the German Olympic confirmation mark | 3000 m steeplechase | 8:20.94 |
| 2023 | German Indoor Championships | 3000 m (indoor) | Bronze |
| 12 Feb 2023 | Indoor meeting | 1500 m (indoor) | 3:46.30 PB |
| 11 Sep 2022 | 2000 m steeplechase | 2000 m steeplechase | 5:28.41 PB |
| 2022 | German Championships | 3000 m steeplechase | Bronze |
| 2021 | U23 European Championships | 3000 m steeplechase | Participant |
| 2018 | U20 World Championships | 3000 m steeplechase | Participant |
The next personal best is already in the making.
The plan
The road to LA 2028
An Olympic cycle runs four years — every season has its job: chasing standards, collecting ranking points, delivering at the championships. Tap any station on this road to read more.
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2024 Paris Olympics
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 a 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.
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2025 Personal best 8:18.12
In Dessau, Velten ran faster than ever — plus an indoor 3000 m best of 7:53.58 in Ghent. The connection to the extended world class is made.
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2026 The comeback
Not every season runs in a straight line: 2026 is the year of fighting back — back on the start line with 8:24.56, eyes fixed forward.
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2027 The Worlds season
The World Championships as the big interim goal — and the season that lays the groundwork for Olympic qualification: standards, ranking points, racing sharpness.
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2028 Los Angeles
The 2028 Olympic Games — the vanishing point every session and every race of this cycle is aimed at.
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 become part of a real sports story, with visibility on the track, on this website, and on social media.
Contact
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