Career
Stadler ran his first marathon at 11 years old. He first competed at the Ironman World Championship in 1999 as an age-group athlete. Following his 2004 Ironman World Championship, Stadler was expected to do well in the 2005 Ironman.
However, he withdrew from the race after suffering three tire punctures and a bleeding bee sting on the thigh.
In 2006, Normann returned to Kona to compete in the Ironman World Championships. Stadler swam fast enough to exit the water only moments behind the race leaders.
Once on the bike course, Stadler managed to gain over 10 minutes on the chase pack, setting a bike course record at 4:18:23 (26 mph). Australian Chris McCormack came within 71 seconds of Stadler but was unable to get any closer.
On July 5, 2011, Stadler had a successful five hour heart surgery in Heidelberg (Germany).
Following the surgery, four weeks later, Stadler announced his retirement from professional triathlon racing.