Ellen Tittel
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. In 1971 she helped to set a new world record in the 4 × 800 m relay.
Tittel at the 1972 Olympics | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 28 June 1948 Mühlbach (Müglitztal), Saxony, Germany | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 7 October 2023 (aged 75) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 158 cm (5 ft 2 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 44 kg (97 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Athletics | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | 800 m, 1500 m | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Bayer Leverkusen | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Coached by | Gerd Osenberg | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal best(s) | 800 m – 2:03.1 (1971) 1500 m – 4:06.65 (1972) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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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.
Tittel was a lawyer by profession. Before turning to athletics she tried gymnastics, but found it too boring. She married two fellow Olympic middle-distance runners, first Paul-Heinz Wellmann, and a few years later Thomas Wessinghage. With Wessinghage she had a son Daniel. She died on 7 October 2023, at the age of 75.