WPAC 2025: Markus Rehm and Steffi Nerius — A 16-Year Journey of Trust, Triumph, and Farewell

New Delhi – When Markus Rehm soared to 8.43m at the World Para Athletics Championships (WPAC) in New Delhi, he not only secured his eighth consecutive world title but also closed a remarkable chapter in para sport history — his 16-year partnership with coach Steffi Nerius.

For Rehm, the gold medal was more than a victory; it was the final tribute to a bond forged in India and, fittingly, concluded in India. “That competition in India was our beginning,” Rehm recalled. “I was nervous, unsure of myself. Steffi gave me belief. To finish here feels like life wrote this story.”

Sixteen years earlier, a teenager struggling to rebuild his identity after losing his right leg in a wakeboarding accident had met a world champion javelin thrower who believed in him. Their first international event together took place in Bangalore. What followed was a journey of trust, discipline, and relentless pursuit of excellence.

“Sports gave me my identity back,” Rehm said. “But it was Steffi who gave me the path.”

Under Nerius’s guidance, Rehm shattered every limit. From breaking the 7m mark to leaping a staggering 8.72m in 2023 — a distance that rivals able-bodied athletes — the duo redefined what para athletics could be. “She always pushed me to see possibilities beyond what I thought was my limit,” Rehm admitted.

But their partnership was more than technical. Training sessions in Leverkusen often blended drills with life conversations. Nerius was as likely to refine his takeoff angle as she was to remind him of his worth beyond sport. Teammates described their bond as family-like — grounded in respect, care, and quiet strength.

“She cared not only about the jump,” Rehm said, “but about me.”

As the German anthem played in Delhi, Rehm touched his headband in a modest but heartfelt tribute to his coach. “Steffi deserves her weekends now, her time with her family,” he said. “I can never give back what she gave me.”

Though the partnership ends, Rehm’s story continues. He plans to train with a Dutch group in Amsterdam alongside world champion Fleur Jong, with his sights still set on surpassing his own 8.72m world record. “I’m still a dreamer,” he smiled. “There’s more distance out there.”

For para athletics, however, the legacy of Markus Rehm and Steffi Nerius is already sealed: sixteen years, eight world titles, one world record, and above all, a partnership defined not by medals alone but by trust, resilience, and humanity.

With inputs from IANS