Team Germany soccer player Lea Schüller and Team Austria sailor Lara Vadlau, both competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics, have ended their relationship after more than three years together.
The news of their split comes as a surprise to many, especially as both athletes continue to participate in their respective events in Paris.
Vadlau, who recently secured a gold medal in the mixed dinghy event with her sailing partner Lukas Maehr, confirmed the breakup in an interview. Despite the end of their romantic relationship, Vadlau emphasized that the two remain on good terms. “Lea is no longer my partner,” Vadlau shared with O3. “Of course, I am very proud of her, and we are still very good friends. I am keeping my fingers crossed for her.”
Schüller, a forward for Bayern Munich and a key player for Germany’s national soccer team, helped her team secure a bronze medal by defeating Spain 1-0 in Friday’s consolation match. While Schüller has not publicly commented on the split, both athletes have continued to focus on their Olympic performances.
The exact timing and reasons for their breakup remain unclear. However, it appears that the demands of their athletic careers may have played a role. The couple had been looking forward to spending time together in Paris, but according to The Daily Mail, their plans didn’t go as expected. “It’s great that we both made it to Paris,” Schüller had said before the Olympics. “Maybe we’ll run into each other a few times. We rarely see each other, only about 100 days a year, because Lara is away a lot and trains hard to prepare for the Games.”
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Vadlau, 30, and Schüller, 26, had been together since at least 2021, as indicated by Vadlau’s Instagram posts, including a memorable photo of the pair together in Croatia. The two athletes had been living together in Munich, as Schüller mentioned in a joint interview with FC Bayern in December 2022, where they discussed the challenges and benefits of dating another elite athlete.
Vadlau had previously noted the advantages of being in a relationship with someone who understands the demands of high-level sports. “I find it really helpful because both of us understand what you have to do for your sport, that you’re away a lot and don’t see each other that often. Otherwise, it would be really hard,” said Vadlau, who is a multiple world and European champion sailor.
Schüller echoed this sentiment, but also acknowledged the difficulties their schedules imposed on their relationship. “On the other hand, if I wasn’t a sportswoman we could see each other a lot more often. Lara’s just been away for two weeks, then I’m with the national team for 10 days, then she’s back on her travels… We often only see each other for three to five days at a time,” Schüller explained. “It’s a bit like a long-distance relationship. Not because we live in different places – we live together in Munich – it’s just one of us is always away.”
As both athletes continue their Olympic journeys, they do so with mutual respect and support, even as their romantic relationship has come to an end.
Their ability to remain friends in the midst of such a high-pressure environment speaks to the strength of their connection, even as they move forward separately.
