Tim Lobinger on the NDR talk show in 2018. Even then he was fighting cancer Photo: picture alliance/dpa
By Tanya May
The sport mourns Tim Lobinger.
The former pole vaulter has succumbed to his severe cancer. He was only 50 years old.
When asked by BILD, the family confirmed Lobinger’s death. A statement said: “Tim Lobinger passed away on February 16 in Munich at the age of 50 after a serious illness. The former pole vault legend fell asleep peacefully in a small circle, he didn’t lose the fight, but won it in his own way. Please refrain from further media inquiries for the benefit of the family.”
Lobinger was diagnosed with a particularly aggressive form of leukemia in 2017.
At that time, the cancer could still be successfully combated thanks to stem cell therapy. He then published the book Losing Is Not an Option, in which he recounted his battle with cancer. In 2022, however, the disease came back.
Tim Lobinger celebrated great success as a pole vaulter Photo: picture alliance / Hendrik Schmidt
There have not been any chances of long-term improvement, as Lobinger himself explained in a BILD interview in October 2022: “There will be no more healing for me. My cancer is too aggressive.”
Lobinger achieved his greatest sporting successes as a pole vaulter indoors: 1998 European Champion in Valencia, 2003 World Champion in Birmingham. Outdoors, he won bronze in 2002 and silver in 2006.
After his career as an athlete, Lobinger worked as an athletics trainer at RB Leipzig. As a personal trainer, he later looked after Bayern international Joshua Kimmich, among others.
Son Lex-Tyger is a footballer and is under contract with the second division club 1. FC Kaiserslautern. His daughter Fee made Lobinger a grandfather in October.