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Daniela Ryf on her world record in Roth 2023: “Incredibly significant”

Photo: Daniel Löb / dpa

Five-time Ironman world champion Daniela Ryf is ending her professional triathlon career after this season.

After 20 years in professional sports, the 36-year-old Swiss says in a short video on Instagram that she has achieved more than she ever dreamed of: "That's why I'm sad and happy at the same time that this will be my last season as a professional athlete."

It now feels like the right time for her to end her career, says Ryf.

Her body has achieved extreme performance: "And I am very grateful that I was able to push it so far."

This year Ryf wants to take part in races in Miami, San Francisco, London, Las Vegas, Dubai and the Ironman World Championships in Nice, among others.

“I’m really looking forward to this season, giving it my best and enjoying it as much as possible,” says Ryf.

Ryf won five Ironman World Championships between 2015 and 2021 over 3.86 kilometers of swimming, 180.2 kilometers of cycling and 42.2 kilometers of running.

Ryf also won the 70.3 title five times over half the distance.

Queen of Hawaii

Back then, the Swiss woman was the absolute superstar in long-distance triathlon.

At the time, SPIEGEL called Daniela Ryf “the queen of Hawaii, the iron lady.”

Whether swimming, cycling or running – Ryf actually had no real weaknesses in any of the three disciplines.

In 2018 she set the record for the fastest woman on the Ironman cycling course in Hawaii, and to date no competitor has been faster.

Last year, Ryf caused a stir again when she broke the twelve-year-old world record over the long triathlon distance at the Challenge Roth.

She was faster for about ten minutes.

Afterwards she spoke of the “greatest race I’ve ever had”.

This record was the last thing she had not yet achieved in her career.

Achieving this goal is “incredibly important” for her.

Ryf is expected to complete her final career race in November at the finals of the T100 Triathlon World Tour, the location has not yet been decided.

ptz/sid