Back to gold with Dr. Volker Stoll and the Sportklinik Hellersen
Tatjana Schilling: A story of gratitude and athletic success
Foto: Yuliia Perekopaiko/DFB
Have article read aloud
Tatjana Schilling's sporting career has been marked by numerous successes. Over the past ten years, she has won numerous medals and titles, including the European Best Master Award for her outstanding achievements in 2023. Her ambition and discipline helped her to keep her spirits up even in difficult situations. The support of Dr. Volker Stoll, chief of knee surgery and sports traumatology at the Sportklinik Hellersen, was also of great importance. He successfully accompanied her on her way back to competitiveness several times after serious injuries.
Tatjana Schilling and Dr. Volker Stoll met for the first time in 2015 Regular testing is extremely important for competitive athletes – and this insight also applies to popular sports. after an accident just 14 days before the World Championships in Lyon. Tatjana Schilling had fallen heavily in the hurdles sprint at the German Senior Championships in Zittau and injured her cruciate ligament, medial ligament and meniscus. The inner ligament was torn. Her dream of success was gone for the time being. Taking part in further competitions seemed unattainable at first. Her doctor recommended the Sportklinik Hellersen and the chief physician operated on the athlete immediately. "Before the operation, Dr. Stoll asked me when my next World Championships would be. That was supposed to be the 2016 World Championships in Perth, Australia. When he told me that I would definitely be able to take part, it motivated me immensely," recalls Tatjana Schilling.
This was followed by rehabilitation, another meniscus operation in January 2016 and then further rehabilitation. The good medical care, her iron will and continuous muscle building made Dr. Volker Stoll's promise come true. Tatjana Schilling competed at the 2016 German Championships. And not only that. She also did exceptionally well. She became German champion over 400 meters and in the 4 x 100 meter relay, took silver in the 200 meters and bronze in the long jump. The World Championships in Australia followed just a few months later. Tatjana Schilling won five medals here. She became world champion in the high jump, long jump and shot put. She also won silver in the 4 x 100 meters and bronze in the 4 x 400 meters. She received the “European Best Female Master 2016” award for her performance. She is certain that she achieved this success with the help of Dr. Volker Stoll.
Photo: Sportklinik Hellersen
There was therefore no question for her that she would visit the Sportklinik Hellersen and Dr. Volker Stoll again in February 2022 if problems arose again. "I didn't have any pain and my knee wasn't swollen either, but I had a strange feeling. My doctors said everything was okay. But that wasn't enough for me. So I called Dr. Stoll at the Sportklinik Hellersen. He examined my knee and immediately recognized the problem," explains Tatjana Schilling. “As part of an arthroscopic procedure, we removed inflamed tissue and stabilized defective cartilage on the outer thigh bone so that the joint glided better again,” explains Dr. Volker Stoll.
After her surgery at the Sportklinik Hellersen, she became world champion in the heptathlon in the W50 age group at the World Championships in Tampere, Finland, a few months later in August 2022. “I always feel like I'm in good hands with Dr. Stoll and at the Sportklinik Hellersen,” praises Tatjana Schilling. That is also the reason why she always turns to the head physician.
About the person:
Tatjana Schilling was already active in athletics in her youth up to the age of 16. After a break of several years, she later returned to the sport through her daughter. She took part in her first heptathlon world championships in Lahti, Finland, in 2009. From then on, things went uphill for her. One year later, at the European Championships in Hungary in 2010, the then 38-year-old won the gold medal and in 2011 she won her first world title in Sacramento in the USA. She defended the title in Brazil in 2013. This was followed by further titles in 2016 and in 2019 she finally set a world record at the European Senior Championships in Venice. For her achievements in 2023, Tatjana Schilling received the European Best Master Award as one of three German master athletes in individual competitions. She was honored in the Combined Events category, as she won four world championship and three European championship titles in 2023 and set an age group world record in the heptathlon at the European Championships in Pescara (Italy). The 2025 season got off to a successful start with three German championship titles for 60 meters, 200 meters and 400 meters as well as a silver medal in the shot put.
