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.[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
Died	7 October 2023(2023-10-07) (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[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 1971 Helsinki 1500 m European Athletics Indoor Championships 1973 Rotterdam 1500 m 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]