Thomas Dreissigacker, “It’s about more than medals.”

Text by Robert Birnbaum. Photography by Lea Kurth.

“Coaching is a job like no other. You need lots of patience, expertise and empathy. A lot of empathy.”

Thomas Dreissigacker knows what he’s talking about. The challenge of helping the human body achieve its potential has always intrigued the 37-year-old. Even in his days as a (self-proclaimed) “mediocre” youth runner, the current OAC Europe coach trained youth teams in his hometown of Hildesheim, Germany. Then, after graduating with a degree in sports science, his career path led him away from coaching. However, only a short stint in sports diagnostics later, Dreissigacker was appointed national coach for the German Athletics Federation. Despite his all-round sporting interests, coaching was his destiny.

“Helping young athletes progress – as athletes and human beings – is what makes coaching so special,” Dreissigacker is satisfied with his decision to coach. And he doesn’t shy away from taking on the challenges all coaches face in competitive sports.

“The constant feedback by the hand of results and progress is quite intense, but also truly honest. Coaches need a thick skin. Sometimes, you just have to put on your armor and let things bounce off you.”

In 2021, just after the Games in Tokyo, Dreissigacker received an offer he couldn’t refuse.

Following the successful launch of the On Athletics Club (OAC) in the USA, a European counterpart was in the making. And the team needed a coach. After impressing in the German athletics scene, Dreissigacker was the obvious favorite to land the job. For him, too, this change was welcome.

“Being a young coach, I had lots of ideas for improvement. I was seeking more scope for change. I realized that On was serious about this team, that they really wanted to create something special. Coaching a pro team, without having to relocate to the US? That was a no-brainer.”

Soon after, he took the helm of the OAC Europe and its roster of 13 talented athletes. With Olympians and national champs in the fold already, international success was highly likely for the freshly-formed team. While Dreissigacker and his team dream big, they strive for more than podium finishes and precious metals.

“Of course it’s about success and medals. But that’s not all we’re after. It’s also about being able to work professionally with a team. Just the way you want it. To offer the athletes a top-notch setup. And that’s why working with the OAC Europe is as special as it is. If we find success in the process, even better.”

Hard work breeds success. Well-tailored training regimens get the most out of athletes. So does elite gear and facilities. But none of this means anything without the right athletes. Runners like Sebastian Frey, who joined the OAC Europe from his local Vienna track club, see the team as a unique gateway to professional running.

“Security is key for athletes. A club or federation might support them [financially], but rarely for long. As members of the OAC Europe, they receive long-term contracts that allow them to fully shift their focus on their sport. And they’ll reap the benefits of a truly professional setup – with a mental coach, medical care, training camps and much more. Pro teams like this may exist in the US, but not in Europe.”

Just over three years since the team was founded, Dreissigacker witnesses how 13 individual athletes have turned into a cohesive unit. Despite competing head-to-head at times, the talented runners continue to inspire, and support each other.

“That was on full display at the European Championships in Rome. Marta [Garcia] won a medal on day one – the added motivation and hunger among the team was palpable immediately. That really drives the athletes and me as a coach.”

The team’s members hail from different cultures and backgrounds. For Dreissigacker, this diversity benefits the team.

“We may all be from Europe, but from different countries. Culturally speaking, it’s noticeable that we’re all a little different from each other. Which is great for these young people – they get to broaden their horizons outside of sports, too. Keeping an open mind and learning about the world is beneficial to everybody.”

The OAC Europe is a team of runners. Compared to a soccer team, Dreissigacker’s squad doesn’t work towards a common goal, but individual ones. His message is clear on how they achieve cohesion and team spirit regardless.

“We’re a team, but everybody is an individual athlete. No athlete is bigger than the team. That doesn’t mean that everybody has to take a back seat. Sometimes, an athlete has to take their individual path, to fully realize their potential. At the same time, they have to prioritize the team occasionally. None of the athletes are more important than others – and nobody is bigger than the team.”

And Dreissigacker puts his money where his mouth is. His training philosophy reflects the fine balance between individual solutions and group training. Similar to Dathan Ritzenhein and Kelsey Quinn, his coaching colleagues from the Boulder-based OAC, he doesn’t believe in a one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to getting faster.

“Initially, my training philosophy applies to everybody. But that doesn’t mean everybody trains the same. Their sessions could look completely different.”

In the age of data-centric approaches to training – like the “Norwegian Method” deployed by Olympic Champion Kristian Blummenfelt – Dreissigacker implements modern methods while infusing his experience and people skills into everything he does.

“One doesn’t rule out the other. Just because you collect lots of data shouldn’t warrant neglecting other aspects of training. My approach is to get as much information on an athlete and a session as possible. I use this information to see the bigger picture, which builds the foundation for my decision-making.”

To sum this up, it’s not modern methods or experience. It’s modern methods and experience, as Dreissigacker details.

“No decision should be based on experience alone – I haven’t been in the business for 40 to 50 years. At the same time, I’d never base a decision purely on data. It’s always a mix of both. My experience and the self-assessment of the athlete are part of the equation, too.” 

From an outsider’s perspective, endurance training can seem overly complex. Considering keywords like heart rate zones, anaerobic and aerobic thresholds, lactate measurements and altitude camps, this comes to no surprise. Still, Dreissigacker remains humble. His methods work. But not because they’re radically new in any way.

“I’d never say I invented something new. I’d rather say I try to never stop learning, to gain knowledge and then test if something works for my athletes. For all or just one of them.”

“My philosophy has various influences, generally speaking. But ultimately, you find your own way. Endurance sports are not rocket science. It’s not so complicated that you need to reinvent the wheel.”

Rocket science or just great coaching – the work of the OAC Europe has yielded three medals at the Athletics European Championships 2024 alone. In a span of just three days. First Marta García took bronze over 5000m. Then silver for George Mills. A day on, Mohamed Attaoui bagged another silver in the 800m final. Did Thomas Dreissigacker discover a recipe for success on the track after all? 

“Our plan is to be consistent. We try to keep up the work throughout the year and hope it works out. It worked out this time. I knew the boys and girls were in great shape. You think to yourself: ‘If all goes well, we’ll end up with one medal.’ But I probably didn’t expect it to go this well. We take a lot of confidence from seeing that we’re on the right track with many athletes.”

After a successful performance at the European Champs and consistent preparation, Dreissigacker looks ahead.

In just three years, he’s grown a young group of talented runners into a successful unit of pro athletes. But that doesn’t mean his work is done. 

“I don’t know a single coach who can relax when watching a race from the stands. Of course, you’re tense. Thinking back to the European Championships, sitting in the crowd, thinking ‘the work is done, all will go well’. Well, it’s not so easy to trick your mind into believing that.”

This tension is at the heart of Dreissigacker’s coaching style. He cares. And he chose the right career after all.