Germany’s Felix Schiller and Austria’s Niko Malleczek recently completed an unforgettable sporting journey through the Cook Islands, taking part in two of the destination’s most celebrated events — the Aitutaki Marathon and the Rarotonga Triathlon.

The young European triathletes began their Cook Islands adventure with the Aitutaki Marathon, held from 26–30 April, before competing in the Rarotonga Triathlon on 2 May. The back-to-back events offered not only an exciting athletic challenge, but also the opportunity to experience the Cook Islands’ unique culture, hospitality and breathtaking natural surroundings.

Felix Schiller took first place in the 21km half-marathon and set a new course record with a time of 1 hour and 27 minutes. He finished second in the swimming competition. On the neighbouring island of Rarotonga, he secured his first international victory as a triathlete. He completed the Olympic-distance triathlon (1.5 km swim, 42 km cycle, 10 km run) in 2 hours, 2 minutes and 54 seconds - setting yet another milestone in his sporting career. But that wasn’t all: Felix secured a starting place at the AKL100 Triathlon in Auckland on 9 May. Here too, he dominated the field, taking first place in the middle-distance event (2 km swim, 80 km cycle, 18 km run) with an outstanding time of 3 hours, 37 minutes and 45 seconds. His fellow athlete and friend Niko Malleczek from Austria also achieved strong results, taking first place in the swimming competition and the Olympic-distance triathlon, whilst finishing second in the half-marathon. The pair thus provided a high-calibre duel and had a significant impact on the competition days in the Cook Islands.

The two athletes’ trip was made possible by “Trauminsel Reisen”. The Herrsching-based family business, which specialises in bespoke travel planning to tropical island destinations, handled both the organisation and on-site support, and also backed the project as a sponsor. Felix Schiller’s successes are of particular significance for the region around Lake Ammersee: with several victories, a course record and a second-place finish, the Herrsching native showcased his strong form on the international stage, thereby making a significant sporting statement for the Starnberg district.

As organisers of the Aitutaki Marathon, Destination Management Cook Islands (DMCK), a member of the Turama Pacific Travel Group, was proud to welcome Felix and Niko to Aitutaki during the renowned “Pursuit in Paradise” week. Their participation highlighted the increasing international appeal of the Cook Islands as a destination for both competitive sport and adventure travel.

Set against the backdrop of turquoise lagoons and tropical island landscapes, the events showcased the Cook Islands as a world-class location for sports tourism in the South Pacific. Both athletes embraced the island atmosphere and the warm local hospitality, contributing to the vibrant energy surrounding the events.

The successful participation of international athletes such as Felix and Niko continues to strengthen the Cook Islands’ growing reputation as a destination where sport, culture and paradise meet.