Katrina (Kat) Matthews is a real force over the longer distances. A multiple-time IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 podium finisher, it seems only a matter of time before Kat adds a World Champion title to her name.

Born in Exmouth in 1991, Matthews is employed by the Royal Army Medical Corps as a Physiotherapist Officer, but mixes that job with that of a professional triathlete thanks to the support of the British Army. Her initial foray into the sport consisted of amateur appearances over the Sprint and Olympic distances before stepping onto the long distance scene.

Kat is one of a select few triathletes who enjoyed instant success on the long-distance circuit, lifting the IRONMAN 70.3 Calgary title on debut in 2018 – she was the fastest in her category and the entire women’s field in the age-group only event. Since turning pro, she has finished on the podium more often than off it and is now always considered a contender for the win at every race she starts.

In 2022, a horrific crash shortly before that year’s IRONMAN World Championship saw Kat suffer a long list of injuries, including a fractured skull. A testament to her strength of mind and complete tenacity, Kat was back on a triathlon start line less than 7 months later – taking 3rd place at IRONMAN 70.3 Oceanside and 1st place at IRONMAN Texas in the spring of 2023. Kat bravely relived the experience and shared her return to fitness in a documentary with the PTO.

Career record and results

After starting on the age-group circuit, Kat made her professional debut during the 2019 season with a third-place finish at IRONMAN 70.3 Staffordshire – in front of her were fellow Brits Lucy Charles-Barclay and Emma Pallant-Browne.

Matthews upgraded bronze to silver in her next outing, finishing behind India Lee at IRONMAN 70.3 Finland. In only her third Pro start, she won Gold at the ETU Middle Distance Triathlon European Championships in Târgu Mures, Romania.

Next up the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Nice, where Kat finished in a creditable 16th position in her debut season. A further bronze at 70.3 Weymouth was followed by her full-distance debut at IRONMAN Western Australia, where she finished fourth, breaking the nine-hour mark at her first attempt. The future was bright and it was a fine finish to an impressive introductory season in the Pro ranks.

In 2020, Kat was one of the few athletes who enjoyed a measure of consistent success during the global COVID-19 pandemic. She took her maiden middle-distance victory at 70.3 Tallinn – defeating the field by over five minutes – before doubling up by claiming the Outlaw Half title three weeks later.

Matthews completed her trifecta of triumphs with a maiden IRONMAN title in Florida. Leading a world-class field out of the water, she kept herself at the front of the field throughout the bike stage before unleashing a sub three-hour marathon for a course-record breaking victory, in a time of 8:40:50.

A seasonal debut fourth at Challenge Gran Canaria in 2021 was followed by a fine second-place finish at IRONMAN Tulsa behind four-time IRONMAN World Champion, Daniela Ryf.

On home soil later Matthews topped the podium at IRONMAN UK, 22 minutes ahead of her nearest rival. Her performances across the year earned her a berth at the inaugural PTO Collins Cup, where she defeated Jocelyn McCauley and Carrie Lester in their race in Samorin.

Kat’s 2021 season ended with an appearance at the 70.3 World Championship where she impressed again, finishing fourth, just missing out on the podium.

Since then Kat has gone from strength to strength. 2022 saw her finish 2nd at the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships, a performance she would repeat the following year to make it two for two. A calf injury at the start of 2024 didn’t stop Kat from having an incredible season with 7 podium finishes, including 2nd place at both the 70.3 and full IRONMAN World Championships. Her consistency and ability to blast through the field saw her win the inaugural IRONMAN Pro Series in 2024.

2025 has been more of the same, including an epic battle royale between Kat and fellow athlete Laura Philipp at IRONMAN Hamburg where the pair set a new bar for women’s long distance. Kat might have been part of the sub-8 project a few years ago (more on that below), but Hamburg 2025 showed it’s only a matter of time before a sub-8 female Ironman finish time is a reality in open competition. Kat finished the year with another 2nd place at the IRONMAN World Championship, holding strong on what turned out to be a brutal day.

Kat goes Sub8

In 2022, Matthews was called up for the Sub7Sub8 Project when Lucy Charles-Barclay was forced to withdraw due to a stress fracture in her hip. That left Kat to go up against triathlon legend Nicola Spirig at the Dekra Lausitzring in Germany on June 5, 2022.

Athletes were allowed a total of 10 pacers across the three legs, with the bike in particular being an incredible time trial as a result. Kat led after both the swim and the big legs, but then Spirig – using her renowned run ability – began to cut into that lead on the run.

Eventually Spirig caught and passed Kat, but if anybody thought that was the end of it, they were wrong. Within minutes Kat – maintaining admirable consistency of pace while Spirig started to ‘bonk’ – reclaimed the lead and went on to a famous victory.

Kat eventually stopped the clock on 7:31:54 – smashing that 8-hour barrier in some style.

Kat Matthews gear

Kat Matthews currently has the support of Canyon bikes, and she’s part of the Bahrain Victorious elite tri squad. Her shoe sponsor is ASICS and she trains and races in Wyn Republic apparel.