Kim Gottwald's journey into running began during his final year of high school in 2021. What started as a personal routine—running 10 kilometers every morning for a year—quickly became something more. Without chasing a specific goal at first, the discipline shaped both his mindset and direction.

Running became a way to explore new ideas. Kim gained attention through unconventional formats—like running every Cologne tram line or covering the distance to each of Germany’s matches during the European Football Championship in 2024. What began locally soon caught national media interest.

That momentum led to larger efforts. In the same year, he completed a 161-kilometer race in Berlin and ran 1,160 kilometers across Germany—from Sylt to Neuschwanstein.

In May 2025, Kim took on his biggest physical and mental challenge so far: the Go One More Ultra in Austin, Texas. After 56 hours and 382 kilometers, the race was cut short by weather—with Kim leading. The format: 6.7 km every hour, until no one’s left. For him, it was more than a race—it shifted his outlook on effort, limits, and what comes next.