Hi, my name is Anja Renner. I am 38 years old and a passionate para-triathlete. Twelve years ago, I was diagnosed with a condition that would cause me to go blind. But I didn’t let that stop me. Within just one year, I was able to qualify for the Paralympic Games in Paris, even though I had no prior experience with parasports. At the Olympics, I won the bronze medal – an unforgettable moment in my sporting career. I compete in triathlons as part of a team with a guide. It’s a remarkable and inspiring experience that shows you can often achieve more as part of a team than you can alone.
At the age of 25, I was diagnosed with Usher syndrome, a disease that affects both hearing and eyesight. Born with a hearing impairment, I slowly lost my eyesight due to retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Today, I can only see about 10% of what most people can see. The diagnosis was a shock that pulled the rug out from under me. But I refused to give up. The progression of this incurable disease requires immense mental strength and constant adaptation to new realities. So, instead of holding on to the past, I have learned to make the best of the present, to be open to new paths, and to redefine my dreams.
Thanks to my determination and willpower, my dream of taking part in the Paralympic Games quickly became a reality. My guides and I have consistently worked our way up the world rankings. The road there was challenging, but I was able to overcome numerous hurdles – and as the crowning achievement, I won the bronze medal at the Paralympics together with my guide.
Since May 2023, I have been competing for the German national team and taking part in international competitions such as the World Triathlon Para Series, World Cups, and World and European Championships. I am part of the Paralympicskader (Paralympics Squad) and a proud member of the German Triathlon Union, the German Paralympics Team, and the 1. FC Nürnberg Schwimmen e.V. Under the guidance of Tobias Haumann and Ute Schäfer, I am continuously working to improve my performance. It fills me with pride to represent my country and my team at the highest level.
I was born on July 24, 1986 in Neuburg an der Donau and live in Gmund am Tegernsee. Before getting into parasport, I worked as a biotechnology engineer for a pharmaceutical company in cancer research. I have lived and loved sport since I was a child. Whether it was swimming, soccer, volleyball or horse riding - the main thing was exercise. But when I was 15, I stopped doing everything except horse riding, as I moved away from home for my A-levels and subsequent studies and enjoyed the sociable student life in shared flats, freedom and backpacking trips to faraway countries alongside my academic education.
I was 30 years old when I was inspired by my husband, who is a triathlon enthusiast, to get back into sports and switch from horseback to bicycle. Besides cycling, I also started running and swimming regularly. It was tough at the beginning, but I stuck with it and was able to improve quickly through consistent training. Despite my visual impairment, I started competing in sprint and Olympic distances as an age-group athlete quite soon after I took up the sport, and I surprised myself by often finishing on the podium.
Four years later, in February 2023, I decided to get into parasports. I had quit my job in cancer research and was ready for a new chapter. Taking inspiration from the biographies of blind athletes such as Verena Bentele and Andy Holzer, I realised that parasport could be my path. I set myself an ambitious goal: the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. Time was of the essence – with just 18 months to go. I quickly found a trainer, convinced the national coach of my potential, got myself a tandem, applied for a professional licence, looked for a guide, and familiarised myself with the anti-doping system. After just one year and nine international races with five victories, my dream of Paris had already become a reality – and I was even able to crown my dream of the Paralympics with a bronze medal. It was incredible and overwhelming. Parasport has opened up a new world for me, one that enriches me and from which I can learn a lot.
Following the successes of my short but intense career, I already have my next goals in mind: In the coming years, I am aiming to win a European and World Championship title and to achieve another podium finish at the 2028 Paralympics in Los Angeles.
Birthday: 15.10.1994
Place of residence: Nuremberg and Munich
Profession: Dentist
Competitions: 1st and 2nd national league, middle and long distance
Birthday: 25.09.1995
Place of residence: Leipzig
Profession: Professional triathlete and primary school teacher
Competitions: 1st national league, middle distance
Exceptional triathletes and great personalities help me to achieve my goals. Together we master the challenges with a lot of fun, teamwork and ambition. The relationship between guide and athlete is something very special because it is based on deep trust, mutual understanding and precise communication in order to achieve top performance as a unit.
I owe my first races and successes to Delia Blaess, who put her heart and soul into accompanying me on five international races until July 2023. Maria Paulig has been my main guide since August 2023, and I am delighted that we have realized the dream of Paris together with a lot of passion and fun. I am also very happy about Caroline Pohle, who recently joined our team as another guide.
I am working hard and purposefully towards these successes. With dedication, passion and the ambition to give my best, I am doing everything I can to realize my dream and win gold for my country. I also want to be a role model, inspiration and motivation for people with and without disabilities and raise public awareness of para-sport.
2024 - World Triathlon Para Series Devonport/Australia
2023 - World Cup Alhandra/Portugal
2023 - World Cup Olympic Test Event Paris/France
2023 - Africa Cup Yasmine-Hammamet/Tunisia
2023 - Africa Cup Sharm El Sheikh/Egypt
2024 - European Championships Vichy/Spain
2024 - Paralympics Paris/France
2023 - World Cup A Coruna/Spain
2023 - World Championships Pontevedra/Spain
2023 - World Triathlon Para Series Swansea/Wales
2024 - World Championships Torremolinos/Spain
2023 - European Championships Madrid/Spain
5th place
Abu Dhabi/Arab Emirates
Devonport/Australia
Yokohama/Japan
Samarkand/Uzbekistan
Taranto/Italy
Magog/Canada
Montreal/Canada
Wollongong/Australia
t.b.d.
Besancon/France
Yenisehir/Turkey
Tata/Hungary
Alhandra/Portugal
Vigo/Spain
Optimal support and encouragement are the prerequisites for achieving top performance as a top athlete. Para sport for the blind and visually impaired is not possible at a high level of performance without extensive financial, material and, above all, personal support. In order to achieve top performance, I need to create an environment that allows me to train professionally and in a targeted manner. That's why I look for partners who can support me financially or materially so that I can develop my full performance potential.
I invite you to be part of my journey. Your support can make the difference, not only for me, but also for many others who will be inspired to never give up. In this day and age, it is more important than ever to be open and brave to new ways of doing things and to realize that with determination and willpower, you can achieve great things. Together we can show that true strength lies in the will to keep going and that teamwork enables us to achieve more than we could ever have imagined on our own. Your support can make all the difference. Let's send a strong, inspiring message together: Giving up is not an option.
Join my team and show your commitment to an inclusive and sporty future. Together we can achieve more!
Every donation, big or small, brings me a step closer to my dream. Your generosity enables me to achieve my sporting goals and continue to serve as an inspiration to many. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your trust and support.
What does success mean? Why goals are important, but the journey is often even more important? How to lead a fulfilling life despite a handicap? Many of these questions have not only been with me for years. I am happy to share these experiences and my perspective on life as part of a personal coaching session, a lecture or a panel discussion.
Book a presentation for your company, customers or image event. Please contact me at info@anja-renner.com
Athletes in the Para-triathlon Visual Impairment (PTVI) are divided into three subclasses: B1 (completely blind or low light perception), B2 (more severe partial blindness), and B3 (less severe partial blindness).
All three sub-categories, B1, B2, and B3, are evaluated together, with the B1 athletes receiving a head start (2:41 min for men, 3:11 min for women).
Athletes must use a guide of the same gender and nationality throughout the race. In swimming and running, the guide must be connected by a strap. In cycling, the guide must be the pilot of the tandem bicycle.
