Ellen Tittel (later Wellmann, later Wessinghage, 28 June 1948 – 7 October 2023) was a West German middle-distance runner who specialized in the 1500 m event. She won the European indoor title in 1973, placing third in 1975, and had another third-place finish at the 1971 European Outdoor Championships. She reached the 1500 m finals at the 1972 and 1976 Summer Olympics, but abandoned the 1972 race due to stomach cramps.[4] In 1971 she helped to set a new world record in the 4 × 800 m relay.[1]

Ellen Tittel
Tittel at the 1972 Olympics
Personal information
Born(1948-06-28)28 June 1948
Mühlbach (Müglitztal), Saxony, Germany
Died7 October 2023(2023-10-07) (aged 75)
Height158 cm (5 ft 2 in)
Weight44 kg (97 lb)
Sport
SportAthletics
Event(s)800 m, 1500 m
ClubBayer Leverkusen
Coached byGerd Osenberg[1]
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)800 m – 2:03.1 (1971)
1500 m – 4:06.65 (1972)[2][3]
Medal record
Representing  West Germany
European Athletics Championships
Bronze medal – third place 1971 Helsinki 1500 m
European Athletics Indoor Championships
Gold medal – first place 1973 Rotterdam 1500 m
Bronze medal – third place 1975 Katowice 1500 m

Domestically Tittel set a national record in 1969 and won the national title in 1970–76. In 1975 she was chosen the German Sportspersonality of the Year.[1]

Tittel was a lawyer by profession.[1] Before turning to athletics she tried gymnastics, but found it too boring.[4] She married two fellow Olympic middle-distance runners, first Paul-Heinz Wellmann,[1] and a few years later Thomas Wessinghage.[2] With Wessinghage she had a son Daniel.[4] She died on 7 October 2023, at the age of 75.[5]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d e Ellen Wessinghage. leverkusen.com
  2. ^ a b Ellen Tittel-Wellmann Archived 4 December 2016 at the Wayback Machine. sports-reference.com
  3. ^ Ellen Wellmann (née Tittel). trackfield.brinkster.net
  4. ^ a b c Bill Bruns (6 March 1978). "Thomas Wessinghage Finished Behind Ellen's First Hubby—but Only in the Olympics". People. 9 (9).
  5. ^ "Ellen Tittel-Wellmann". Olympedia. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
Records
Preceded by Women's mile world record holder
20 August 1971 – 8 August 1973
Succeeded by
Awards
Preceded by German Sportswoman of the Year
1975
Succeeded by