Great Britain’s Fenella Langridge will wear bib number one in what will likely be an emotional return to IRONMAN Western Australia this Sunday, 7 December.
She’s actually back as the defending champion after her victory in 2023 as there wasn’t a professional version of the race in 2024.
And that day two years ago holds fond memories for the Brit as she claimed her first IRONMAN victory and set a new IRONMAN Western Australia course best time of 8:29:43.
‘Exciting to be back’
Speaking ahead of Sunday’s race she said: “It’s so exciting to be back in Busselton and it feels very special and cool to be returning as the defending champion. The people and the race hold so many great memories and emotions for me, especially as it was the last time that I really felt like an athlete before my symptoms really started to develop.”
Since winning IRONMAN Western Australia two years ago, life has been a rollercoaster for Langridge. She was diagnosed with External Iliac Artery Endofibrosis earlier this year which required surgery.
“I was pretty naive with surgery and didn’t quite understand how much it would take out of me and the effect it would have on me,” she said. “We have been very cautious and taken recovery and building fitness slowly. But it seems to be paying off so far, I now have two functioning legs – some neural sensory problems but apart from that I feel really good. I’m a totally different person and athlete to the last year and a half.”
Inspired by Kona
Since surgery, Langridge left her home in the UK to first travel to Hawaii to join up with the IRONMAN commentary team to cover the IRONMAN World Championship women’s race and then flew to Australia to spend several weeks training in Noosa.
She made her racing comeback with 14th place at Wollongong T100 and followed that with fourth at IRONMAN 70.3 Langkawi in Malaysia last month.
“Our trip away from home started in Kona getting inspired working at the IRONMAN World Championship and has built from there. From there we flew to Noosa, Australia, which has been the perfect training ground, allowing me to fully focus on training – but it never feels like work. I really have enjoyed my time Down Under,” she added.
Busselton holds a special place in her heart and now, following months of rebuilding, Langridge is excited to be back on the start line feeling healthy and ready to race.
“I won’t lie, it’s been an extremely challenging two years since I last won this race. I am under no illusion that I am not quite the fittest Fenella I have ever been, but I am better off for having had the surgery, and I’m heathy and most importantly happy and motivated to race. Success is being back on the start line ready to set new goals and targets for the future,” she said.
The emotions will also be flowing for one of her rivals in Els Visser, who this week announced it will be her last professional race before she returns to medicine.
Click here for our full preview of the event.
