Simon Ehammer’s season ended with a hospital stay rather than another competition. But the Swiss all-rounder is already looking beyond the setback, turning his attention toward the road to Los Angeles 2028.
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The 26-year-old revealed that he recently underwent minor surgery on his left heel and ankle after dealing with a foot problem since 2024. Now, with the operation behind him, Ehammer is ready to step away from the sport for a while and focus on getting back to full strength.
Ehammer shared the update from his hospital bed, showing that his trademark humor has not disappeared despite the interruption. “After struggling with some issues in my left foot since 2024, I underwent a small surgery on my heel and ankle last Tuesday,” he wrote on Instagram.
The decision came after two years of trying to manage the problem without surgery. Ehammer explained that the medical team had exhausted virtually every conservative option, making the operation the necessary next step.
“Over the past two years, we’ve tried and exhausted pretty much every conservative treatment option, and in the end, surgery was the step we had to take to get me back to feeling 100% and prepare properly for my #roadtoLA28 🚀”
For Ehammer, the timing means putting competition aside and allowing his body to recover. He admitted that he is actually looking forward to the break, particularly the chance to spend some uninterrupted time with his wife, Tatjana Meklau.
“The next few weeks will be all about recovery and getting back on track. So I’m actually really looking forward to heading on holiday with my wife and enjoying some time away from sport. 🌞❤️”
The couple married two years ago, with Meklau bringing an athletic background of her own. She previously competed as a ski cross racer and hammer thrower, meaning Ehammer will have someone close to him who understands the demands of elite sport.
“But first, a quick pitstop in Spielberg @motogp 🚀🤩” he added.
The lighthearted message comes after an eventful season for a man who has spent much of his career balancing the demands of the decathlon with his exceptional long-jumping ability.
He participated at the Paris Olympics in 2024. But Ehammer’s biggest breakthrough came indoors earlier this year when he erased Ashton Eaton’s long-standing heptathlon world record. At the World Athletics Indoor Championships in March, he collected 6,670 points, surpassing the American legend’s 14-year-old mark by 25 points.
What did Simon Ehammer say after breaking Eaton’s record?
Ehammer had never been certain that Eaton’s record could be broken. In fact, he admitted that even he had doubts before producing the performance of his career.
“Nobody thought it would be possible,” he told Olympics.com.
Breaking Eaton’s record carried particular meaning because the American had long been one of Ehammer’s idols. The two eventually spoke by phone after the achievement, with Ehammer describing the conversation as a huge honor.
“I nearly said sorry for breaking it,” he said with a laugh. “But of course, I also thanked him for everything he has given to me and to the sport, for showing how beautiful it can be.”
That performance underlined why Ehammer remains so dangerous across multiple events. He opened the heptathlon with a personal-best 6.69 seconds in the 60m, followed by 8.15m in the long jump and a 14.87m shot put. On day two, his 7.52-second 60m hurdles run became the fastest ever recorded in a heptathlon before a 5.30m pole vault and a 2:41.04 1000m sealed the record.
Yet Ehammer has never wanted to be defined solely by his jumping. Despite winning major medals in the long jump, he continues to view himself as a decathlete first.
“I’m a decathlete. It’s my passion,” he said in 2022. His long-time coach Rene Wyler once summed up Ehammer’s natural ability rather simply: “I could wake him up at 6.00am and an hour later he would jump almost eight metres.”
That talent has made the long jump an important part of his career. He owns the world decathlon best of 8.45m and has won World and European outdoor bronze medals in the individual event.
But injuries have repeatedly complicated his plans. Shoulder surgery in 2023 prevented him from qualifying for the decathlon at the Paris Olympics, while his latest operation now represents another pause.
This time, however, the destination is already clear.
Ehammer wants the recovery period to put him in the strongest possible position for LA28. His 2026 outdoor season had already shown his quality, with an 8.51m long jump in Götzis highlighting his standing among the world’s best decathlete-long jumpers.
Now comes the less glamorous part of elite sport: rest, rehabilitation and patience.
Ehammer knows there is no shortcut through that process. After spending two years trying to manage his foot issue, he finally has the chance to address it properly.
For now, the competitions can wait. The beach, family time, and recovery come first.
And somewhere beyond that break, Ehammer’s road to Los Angeles has already begun.