‘You never forget your first IRONMAN win’ – Fenella Langridge on her day to remember

“I’ll remember it for the rest of my life,” said an understandably delighted Fenella Langridge after claiming her first pro IRONMAN win in record-breaking style on Sunday.

The Brit triumphed at IRONMAN Western Australia in 8:29:43, three minutes clear of Sweden’s Lisa Norden, with Dutch athlete Lotte Wilms third.

It was the first time she has stood on the top step of an IRONMAN podium, and she also smashed nine minutes off the previous course best time on her way to victory.

All went to plan

“I’m absolutely stoked, it was one of the best days ever,” said Langridge. “The race panned out pretty much perfectly where I led out of the swim, just, I was swimming with Lotte the whole way and I went to work on the bike, I knew I had to be patient and a flat course can often really bite you in the bum right at the end so I stayed patient.

“I tried to stick to more speed over power and just rode my own race knowing Lisa did an absolutely phenomenal bike and got the bike world record, which is absolutely insane, well done Lisa.

Then I had to stay patient on the run and know that hopefully Lisa over-biked and that I’d be able to catch her, and I did with one lap to go.

“You never know you’ve got that win until that last 20 metres, until you’re running down that chute.”

Lighting up the course

Langridge has won four times at middle distance and has gone close to full-distance success with runner-up spots at IRONMAN South Africa back in March, Challenge Roth last year and IRONMAN Coeur d’Alene in 2021.

So the win, and the support out on course, made for a day to remember for her.

“You never forget your first IRONMAN win, they’re harder to get these days with fields getting even more competitive so it’s nothing to take for granted and I’ll remember it for the rest of my life, it was amazing,” she said.

“The support was incredible, I’ve loved my Australian trip. It was my first time here and it definitely won’t be my last. It’s a beautiful country with amazing people that really light up the course and really gave me encouragement throughout the day.”