After 24 seasons as an elite NHL star, Zdeno Chara needed a new buzz when he retired from ice hockey in 2022. Time for triathlon.
The 47-year-old was a feature in US arenas for almost a quarter of a century, spending time with the New York Islanders, Ottawa Senators, Boston Bruins and Washington Capitals. He was also the tallest man to ever play in the NHL at 6ft 9ins, earning him the moniker ‘Big Z’.
The peak of Chara’s hockey career came back in 2011 when he captained the Bruins to Stanley Cup glory, but last Sunday in Sweden he achieved something that he might look back on with almost the same level of fondness. He became an Ironman.
Chara heading for Kona
After retirement from the ice, the Slovakian great decided to take up marathons and triathlon – his eventual goal being to race at the IRONMAN World Championship. Now he will realise that dream in just under two months in Kona after a terrific performance in Kalmar.
It was a special day for another reason with Chara choosing to race Kalmar because he has fond memories of the country, after having spent time there during his tenure at Färjestad Bollklubb, a Swedish professional ice hockey team.
He swam the 2.4-mile (3.8km) Baltic Sea swim course in a time of 1:26:08, biked the 112-mile (180km) bike course in 5:12:03, and ran the 26.2-mile marathon course in 3:48:54, finishing in a total time of 10:40:48.
‘Big Z’ overwhelmed
At the finish line in Kalmar’s central square, Chara gushed: “It was absolutely amazing; the fans, and the people of Kalmar and Swedish are so amazing… I couldn’t believe how many signs, and posters, and music, and cheers…it was just spectacular. Thank you so much Kalmar.”
IRONMAN Kalmar was Chara’s first full-distance IRONMAN triathlon, having completed IRONMAN 70.3 Western Massachusetts just a couple of months ago. It was here where Chara was surprised by IRONMAN and his good friend, Boston Marathon Race Director Dave McGillivray, with an invite from IRONMAN to join him at start line in Kona.
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