Search
shop

IRONMAN Wales 2023 results: Nikki Bartlett rules on ‘one of the best days of my life’

Great Britain's Nikki Bartlett was a dominant winner of IRONMAN Wales in Tenby on Sunday
Chief Correspondent
Last updated -
STRENGTH. ENDURANCE. PERFORMANCE.

Speechless is not a word that anyone would associate with the always upbeat and super chatty Nikki Bartlett, but a second career IRONMAN victory, achieved at IRONMAN Wales 2023 on Sunday, may even had that impact on her. At least, for a few seconds!

Advertisement

Consistent all day

It’s no secret that Bartlett’s triathlon strengths lay on dry land, but the former Elite rower has been chipping away at her swim for many years now.

While the Pro entry numbers in Tenby were small, kicking off the day in second place and stopping the clock at just a few seconds outside of the hour mark was a solid start. That put her in second place, and just 2:43 behind Johanna Ahrens (GER) starting the challenging bike course around the Pembrokeshire coast.

Bartlett brought significant experience to the event she told me earlier in the year was her favourite race, having finished third in both 2016 and 2018. She put that to good use from the start, and by 40km had already moved into a four-minute lead. That was one she built on over the next four hours, and with the day’s best bike split (5:25:33) in the bag she would actually start the run almost 15 minutes clear of Finland’s Heini Hartikainen, with Rebecca Anderbury having ridden her way up to third place, 23 minutes down.

Nikki’s riding has always been strong – a consistent trait from those with a rowing background – but she has really been making significant progress on her run too over the past 18 months or so, reflected in top-10 finishes at the IRONMAN 70.3 World Champs in both 2021 and 2022. With such a lead, that would likely not be needed, but always a confidence booster to have that in reserve.

Through the first half of the very tough run course in just over 1:34 (and having extended her significant T2 advantage a further four minutes), Bartlett would cross the line in very happy mode with a 3:16:45 run split, a 23 -minute winning margin and a huge smile.

IRONMAN Wales 2023 Nikki Bartlett
Photo by Huw Fairclough for IRONMAN

Dreams coming true

After having to withdraw from IRONMAN Frankfurt in race week early in the season, this race and performance meant a lot to the Brit, words she expressed via her Instagram account:

“One of the best days of my life. Oh may days!! Dream. Come. True. IRONMAN Wales Champion baby!

“Absolutely chuffed to bits! I can’t even express how epic this rae and atmosphere is. The people and place makes this race so special. I can’t even put it into words.!

“Thank you so much for everyone’s support out there. Crowds. Athletes. Volunteers! I actually felt like a celeb for the day! Topping it off to have my family, friends and Bex there too.”

IRONMAN Wales 2023 Nikki Bartlett
Photo by Huw Fairclough for IRONMAN

Big picture: the French connection…

While most attention this coming week will mean eyes on the Men’s IRONMAN World Championship in Nice, Sunday’s performance in Tenby ticks another box in a longer-term plan for Bartlett.

She is very much seeing the 2024 IRONMAN World Championship – which for the Pro Women will be in Nice – as an 18-month project which has already started. Very excited by the very different terrain and conditions to Kona, this ticks the qualification box for 12 months time, providing additional freedom in terms of race planning and approach to success next year.

It was also a pretty smart move, financially. IRONMAN Wales offered a $50,000 prize purse, and with the event being a Pro Women event only, that means a top prize of $15,000.

All-in-all, a pretty perfect day.

IRONMAN Wales 2023 Results

Sunday 3 September 2023 – 3.8km / 180km / 42.2km (No Pro Men race in 2023)

Pro Women

  • 1. Nikki Bartlett (GBR) – 9:52:02
  • 2. Heini Hartikainen (FIN) – 10:15:22
  • 3. Johanna Ahrens (GER) – 10:30:21
  • 4. Camille Deligny (FRA) – 10:52:32
  • 5. Rebecca Anderbury (GBR) – 11;36:40
  • 6. Margrit Eifers (GER) – 11:40:32
John Levison
Written by
John Levison
TRI247's Chief Correspondent, John has been involved in triathlon for well over 30 years, 15 of those writing on these pages, whilst he can also be found commentating for events across the UK.
Discover more
Challenge The Championship Marjolaine Pieree
How to qualify for Challenge The Championship – and why it should be on your triathlon bucket list
Cadomotus aero triathlon cycling shoes
Can your triathlon cycling shoes make you faster? How shoe choice could speed up your triathlon finish times
French Riviera T100 bike course Esterel
Is this the ultimate middle distance triathlon bike course? We rode the French Riviera T100 bike course and it’s EPIC
Ironman gear guide – everything you need to get to the finish line of a full distance triathlon
Challenge St. Pölten 2024 - image credit Jose Luis Hourcade / Challenge Family
Expert swim coach on the three most common swim mistakes age group triathletes make (and how to fix them!)
latest News
IRONMAN World Championship 2024 Nice Age Group Swim Start
IRONMAN to review World Championship slot allocation model after fears raised for Age Group women
Jonny Brownlee / Jonathan Brownlee - Super League Triathlon London 2023
Did the Brownlee brothers nearly join pro cycling’s Team Sky after 2012 Olympic heroics?
Kristian Hogenhaug interviewed after The Championship 2025
Danish triathlon star highlights blistering bike split as key to The Championship success.
Alistair Brownlee - T100 San Francisco 2024 bike
Olympic triathlon legend Alistair Brownlee completes iconic Gralloch race in latest gravel test
Jeanne Lehair Beth Potter WTCS Yokohama 2025
From Olympic heartbreak to joy of first WTCS win as emotions flow for Jeanne Lehair
triathlon on your terms
Never miss out with our triathlon alerts & digest. Get a dose of adventure & inspiration with Boundless.
The 247 Group

The home of endurance sports

Share to...