British superstar Kat Matthews says a first IRONMAN World Championship title is her “primary focus” this season – but that she’s also motivated to try and win a third successive Pro Series title.
The Pro Series is 16 events in total – six IRONMANs and eight IRONMAN 70.3 triathlons around the world in addition to the IRONMAN World Championship and the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship – and it all gets under way this Saturday with IRONMAN New Zealand.
There will again be a $200,000 bonus up for grabs to both the women’s and men’s winners and Matthews is the clear favourite to get off to a flying start in New Zealand.
‘Super smooth’ training block
You can read our full preview of the Taupō event here – including how to watch – but the fact that it kicks off the Pro Series has helped the race attract arguably its strongest-ever line-up.
More than 40 of the world’s top professional triathletes will battle it out for the 2026 IRONMAN New Zealand title, a share of the $125,000 USD prize purse, a maximum of 5,000 Pro Series points to the winners, and four qualifying slots per gender to the 2026 IRONMAN World Championship triathlons in and Kona, Hawai`i on 10 October, with Matthews up against former champions Regan Hollioake (AUS) and Hannah Berry (NZL).
After back-to-back IRONMAN Pro Series titles, Matthews begins her 2026 campaign in a place she is familiar with. The British athlete finished runner-up in Taupō at the 2024 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship and returns with intent: to open her season with maximum IRONMAN Pro Series points and secure early qualification for the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona.
In preparation for her IRONMAN New Zealand debut, Matthews skipped the winter back home to head to Noosa, Australia, for a pre-race training camp for a few weeks before arriving in Taupō.
“The training block in Noosa has gone exactly to plan, super smooth and with the added bonus of great company and really relaxed fun atmosphere,” said Matthews. “Coming over to Oceania well ahead of IRONMAN New Zealand allows me to feel totally in-line with the time zone shift. I often find big travel hits my hormonal stability and the sleep disturbance coincides with my mood, gut health and general tolerance for positivity! It is also nice to enjoy the heat of Australia after a pretty miserable [weather] UK winter.”
Training shift
There has also been a significant change as ahead of the new season, Matthews, alongside her husband Mark, has taken full control of her training programme – a shift she is relishing.
She explained: “My husband Mark and I are now taking total ownership over all my training programmes, and we are both loving the flexibility of this and so far we are communicating really well.
“Loosely I’d say in Jan and Feb I am doing less volume to last year and loading the threshold zone more across the bike and run. We will of course periodise through the year towards the primary focus of the IRONMAN World Championship in Kona. Some extra little things I have added in are surrounding muscular health; some toe and foot exercises and single leg weighted loading.”
Looking ahead to race day, Matthews is focused on winning the race which would put her nicely on her way to an IRONMAN Pro Series hat-trick shot but Matthews has her sights firmly set on the IRONMAN World Championship, a race where she has finished runner-up three times: “The IRONMAN World Championship is my focus, but I am deeply motivated to retain the Pro Series title.”
‘Lots to fight for come ace day’
Australia’s Regan Hollioake returns to the Taupō start line this year wearing the number one bib in the women’s field as the defending IRONMAN New Zealand champion.
“Wearing number one is such a privilege,” said Hollioake. “It’s what we all dream of when we start this sport, winning and returning to defend titles. It’s what we are all here for. I’m so thankful I’ve been able to return to Taupō and given the opportunity to wear the number one all day. This will be one bib number that I keep for good.
“Taupō is unique, I think a lot of people got a look into the magic that is New Zealand at IRONMAN 70.3 Worlds in 2024. The race is steeped in history, the town is something special, the course is beautiful, and the support is like no other. Every time I’ve raced in Taupō it has felt like a championship race with the buzz and the on the ground support. We as athletes really drive energy from the environment and the crowd and this one is always pumping. It’s also a hard but fair course where nothing is for free and there’s no room for mistakes. I love the challenge of a race day like this.”
Hollioake enjoyed a successful but long 2025 season, highlighted by her IRONMAN New Zealand victory and finishing sixth overall in the IRONMAN Pro Series. She began her season in Taupō in March and ended it with two World Championship races in Kona – where she finished 13th – and Marbella in November.
“I had an excellent off season break post Marbella that allowed me a full mental and physical reset needed after a long and busy season. In the past, I’ve been impatient in returning to training a little early, so I was more conscious this time of taking my time to sensibly get back into it. I’ve been loving being at home, training through an Aussie summer and having some really solid routines in place that has made the start to the season very enjoyable for me,” said Hollioake.
With a title defence, IRONMAN Pro Series points, prize money, and Kona qualification on the line in Taupō, Hollioake recognises there’s lots to race for this weekend.
“All roads lead to Kona so that is my main priority,” she said. “It would be ideal to grab a World Championship slot at the first race of the season, which to do so would have to be a solid result in itself. It would be excellent to start the year off with some solid Pro Series points too. A solid result early on would be a big advantage and lead to some flexibility later in the year for me. Lots to fight for come race day.”
Berry another one to watch
Kiwi Hannah Berry is another IRONMAN New Zealand champion toeing the start line on Saturday. The Tauranga athlete is excited to return to the race after missing the past two editions.
“I’m very excited, I really missed racing here last year. Racing at home is the best, and while I loved that I could support from the sidelines for the last two years, I am so ready to be back racing. Being a Pro Series race this year is a bonus – it brings more international athletes here and will make for some exciting racing to watch,” said Berry.
“I think a successful day is one where I am able to execute a performance that I know I’m capable of currently. It’s early season so we don’t know what kind of form anyone else is in yet, but I feel confident in my form for a good early season IRONMAN. A successful day is also one where I can enjoy moments of the course out there with fellow competitors and supporters and can stay present and positive through all the challenges the day brings.”
Berry says she’s all in on the IRONMAN Pro Series this year and is hoping to fight for one of the top 10 spots again after finishing fourth in 2024 and ninth last year. If she can continue the strength and consistency of recent performances that led to an incredible fourth place finish at the 2025 IRONMAN World Championship in Kona, the Kiwi could well be pushing for a podium finish in the series.
“I am aiming to complete a full set of races for the Pro Series this year, and I would love to once again finish within the top 10, aiming for a higher placing overall,” she said.
Competition for podium places at IRONMAN New Zealand run deeps. Two-time champion Jocelyn McCauley (USA) is always a threat in Taupō, athletes like Lotte Wilms (NLD), Rebecca Clarke (NZL), and Fenella Langridge (GBR) will hope to push the pace in the swim to get a gap on those behind them, while strong runners in the shape of Danielle Lewis (USA) and Tamara Jewett (CAN) will do their best to blitz through the field on the marathon.
Full women’s start list
| Bib Number | First Name | Last Name | Country |
| F1 | Regan | Hollioake | AUS |
| F2 | Kat | Matthews | GBR |
| F3 | Hannah | Berry | NZL |
| F4 | Jocelyn | McCauley | USA |
| F5 | Lotte | Wilms | NLD |
| F6 | Maja | Stage Nielsen | DNK |
| F7 | Danielle | Lewis | USA |
| F8 | Nina | Derron | CHE |
| F9 | Gabrielle | Lumkes | USA |
| F10 | Rebecca | Clarke | NZL |
| F11 | Steph | Clutterbuck | GBR |
| F12 | Tamara | Jewett | CAN |
| F14 | Fenella | Langridge | GBR |
| F15 | Chloe | Lane | AUS |
| F16 | Alexia | Bailly | FRA |
| F17 | Hannah | Knighton | NZL |
| F18 | Rhianne | Hughes | GBR |
| F19 | Line | Bonde | DNK |
| F20 | Katie | Treston-Torney | USA |
| F21 | Mizuki | Hirayanagi | JPN |
