A number of top class athletes will look to take home a Kona or Nice slot and a slice of the prize purse this weekend at IRONMAN Western Australia, with the pro women’s race set to be especially exciting.
Olympic silver medalist Lisa Norden is on the start line, as is Britain’s Fenella Langridge, with last year’s runner-up Els Visser another contender who will have her eye on the win in Busselton.
Ahead of the race on Sunday, those three leading contenders gave their thoughts on the race and explained some of the factors that make Australia such an incredible race destination.
“Anything can happen”
For last year’s second place finisher Visser, the fast and flat course in Busselton means that anything can happen on race day, which combined with some high quality opponents, will make the battle for the win a hard fought one.
“It’s a highly competitive field on a flat and fast course. Anything can happen, I am sure we will all push each other to get the best out of ourselves.
“IRONMAN does such a fabulous job staging this event in an iconic location. I had such a memorable experience last year that I’ve now made this a must do race on my annual calendar.
“I’m excited to be back in Western Australia, and I’ve had my most successful year to date as a professional triathlete. I hope to finish my season with a solid performance in a race I enjoy doing.”
“Training hardly feels like work” Down Under for Norden
Having already won her home race at IRONMAN Sweden this season and finished ninth in Kona, a win in Western Australia would round out a brilliant season for PTO World #20 Norden.
“I’m very excited over the fact I get to pin on a number one more time this year. I took a small break after Hawaii then really enjoyed getting back into it again. I love racing and I love being in Australia, so this is the best possible combination for me to end my season.”
Talking about the time she has spent so far in Australia, Norden was full of praise, highlighting the ease with which she can train in a community that is known for its triathlon passion.
“It’s been awesome, the local triathlon community has been so welcoming and I’ve been staying at a homestay that has been looking after me so well. Training is so easy and fun down here that it hardly feels like work.
“The course looks great and I love a sea swim, but I think it’s mainly the Australian passion and knowledge of the sport that makes this one so special.”
“I am here to win”
Having set out to win a full distance race in 2023 and come up just short in her best race of the year at IRONMAN South Africa, Langridge is ready to give it her all to take the tape in Busselton.
“I’m not going to lie at the beginning on the year one of my main aims was to win a full distance race so I am here to win but the other girls I know are super fit and super strong at the moment so they’re going to put up a good fight. If I just get my Nice slot then that would be great but I’m going to hopefully be fighting at the front all day.
Having spent the last month in Australia, Langridge said her experience there had exceeded expectations, with the thriving triathlon community a sight to behold, with the Brit sad that so few professionals make the trip out to race.
“It’s been amazing, I suppose you don’t really know what to expect coming to a new country, but it’s surpassed all expectations. It’s beautiful, it’s diverse, and the community and way of life over here is quite something, we’re definitely planning to come back.
“It’s really cool and good to see the community of triathlon over here is just as big as in Europe, it’s just a shame it’s so far away so people struggle to come over here and experience these races because they are great.
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