European U23 silver medallist and second-place in the Madrid 2025 European Athletics Team Championships, hammer thrower Merlin Hummel is emerging as one of Germany’s best prospects.
The 23-year-old is strengthening his approach in training, but also in technology too. He is a student of Artificial Intelligence and is using AI to create an app to help athletes – including himself – to improve throwing performance.
This year he has broken 80 metres for the first time and will be looking to contend at this year’s Tokyo World Athletics Championships. In a new and exclusive regular column for European Athletics, he takes us behind the scenes of his life on the international circuit, how he uses technology to improve and his ambitions for 2025.
Making a Plan for 2025—During the Paris Final
The Olympic final in Paris didn’t go the way I wanted it to last summer. I threw 76 metres, which was far below what I knew I was capable of after reaching 79 metres at the Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships earlier in the summer.
That moment, standing there in the Olympic final, was when I actually started thinking about 2025. I wasn’t depressed, but I was definitely frustrated. I knew something had to change. Hammer throw is such a technical event, and I realised some small adjustments could make a big difference.
So, right there during the biggest competition of my life, I started reflecting on what went wrong, and how I was going to fix it for the future.
The goal I set at the start of the season was to be among the world’s top five. The ranking is already there, but now it’s about those fine details. I want to be throwing 81 metres or more consistently, especially with the World Championships in Tokyo coming up. I’ve worked all season on identifying those weak spots and turning them into strengths.
Building a Stronger Thrower—And a Smarter One
A big focus this year has been making my lower back bulletproof. That’s been a weak point for me in the past, but now it’s probably my strongest area. I trained to be able to throw 9kg, 10kg, even 11kg hammers with full control. That stability makes the standard 7kg hammer feel incredibly light, almost like a 6kg.
I haven’t changed much in the weight room over the past two years, but what’s really made a difference is throwing heavier hammers further. It’s actually pretty simple math when you think about it. A lot of throwers believe lifting more weight equals longer throws. For me, the focus is different, and it’s working.
Outside of training, I’m also working on something that really excites me: an AI-powered app to improve throwing performance. I’ve trained a computer vision model on more than 12,000 images of hammer throws, many of them my own. It detects the hammer, tracks its movement, and calculates data like curve and release angles.
I’m in the final stages of development now. There are always little bugs to fix, but the model works, and I’m close to getting it out there. I’m studying Applied Artificial Intelligence at the International University, and while this app isn’t officially part of my studies, it fits perfectly with everything I’m doing as an athlete.
How the Season’s Going
Honestly, this is the best season I’ve ever had. My distances across all hammer weights—5kg, 6kg, and 7kg—are at an all-time best. I’ve been consistent, my back is healthy, and everything’s been clicking. I couldn’t ask for more so far.
I’ve competed in a mix of World Athletics Continental Tour gold, silver, and bronze meetings across Europe and Germany. One highlight was the European Throwing Cup in Cyprus back in February, it was 32 degrees, which was tough, but a great experience. I wasn’t prepared for the heat then, but I learned from it.
So when I competed at the European Athletics Team Championships in Madrid—a key target for my first peak of the season—I came prepared with a cool vests. It was close to 40 degrees, but I managed it really well, finished second with a personal best of 81.27m
What’s Next
Next up are the World University Games in Rhine-Ruhr here in Germany. It’s a fun competition—kind of a “side quest” for me—but it’s still an exciting one, especially since I’ve never done it before. It’s close to home, just a few hours’ drive, and I’m looking forward to experiencing it.
Then it’s straight back into training. The German Championships are coming, but we’re not tapering or peaking for those either—it’s more about staying sharp. After that, it’s all about the build-up to Tokyo for the World Athletics Championships.
My competition manager is trying to get me into the Diamond League in mid-August. If not, I’ll be doing some Continental Tour gold meetings—possibly Budapest on 12 August—and maybe one or two more competitions before Tokyo. Everything is planned around peaking at the Worlds.
How I Switch Off
When I’m not training or working on the app, you’ll usually find me playing volleyball—it’s my favourite sport outside of athletics. We’ve got a match coming up with some friends next weekend, so I’ll need to brush up a bit this week! I enjoy indoor volleyball during winter and beach volleyball in the summer.
Spending time with my girlfriend, cooking, and working on other creative projects all help me recharge. And I’m a big fan of saunas and spas. We’ve got some amazing wellness places just 30 minutes from where I live. A good sauna session really helps me relax and recover both mentally and physically.