Former World Cup winner Schurrle pushes his limits in extreme sports

by Oliver Trust

BERLIN, Oct. 3 (Xinhua) -- Years after ending his career at the age of 29, 2014 FIFA World Cup champion Andre Schurrle found his passion for extreme sports.

The 34-year-old is pushing his limits in unconventional ways, after retiring from professional football in 2020 due to increasing pressure.

The former German international has created the "Last Soul Ultra," a race featuring 100 mostly extreme sports athletes, which begins Friday in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

It involves continuously running over a 6,706-kilometer course until only one person is left standing. "I am excited by the idea of how far it can go while your body is screaming to stop," Schurrle said. "Exactly this moment, when only your mind is deciding, that's the core of the Last Soul Ultra."

The race happens at a secret location to ensure a smooth event flow.

After participating in this year's Berlin Marathon, Schurrle gained attention by completing several alpine climbing tours, including an ascent of Germany's highest mountain, the 2,962-meter-high Zugspitze.

Schurrle has been capped 57 times for Germany, with his assist on Mario Gotze's winner in the 2014 World Cup final against Argentina becoming a highlight of his football career. He also won the 2014-15 Premier League title with Chelsea and is a two-time German Cup winner, with Wolfsburg and Borussia Dortmund, respectively.

In June 2025, Australian extreme-runner Phil Gore completed a "Last Soul Ultra"-style race, covering 119 loops and 798 kilometers while running for nearly five days, setting a record. Enditem