Ironman World Championship: Will Daniela Ryf win Kona Again?

Swiss triathlete Daniela Ryf’s outlook for Saturday’s Ironman World Championship in Kona doesn’t make for exciting commentary. The 2015 and 2016 champion beat her nearest competitor by 23:44 in 2016 and by 13:02 the previous year.

Ryf also came in 1st place at the Ironman 70.3 World Championships in 2014, 2015, and 2017. In 2016, she lost to 1st place winner, Britain’s Holly Lawrence, and had to settle for 4th place behind Canada’s Heather Wurtele. However, she trailed Lawrence by a mere 29 seconds in a close race.

This past September, she beat 2nd place winner, Emma Pallant of Britain, by 6:37. Lawrence abandoned the race and hopped off her bike after 37km.

Ryf also made 7th and 40th in the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics, respectively.

Will Any of Daniela Ryf’s Competitors Catch Up with Her in Hawaii?

Here’s a list of a few of Ryf’s closest competitors in the above races:

• Holly Lawrence, Great Britain
• Melissa Hauschildt, Australia
• Caroline Steffen, Switzerland
• Emma Pallant, Great Britain
• Heather Wurtele, Canada
• Heather Jackson, USA
• Mirinda Carfrae, Australia
• Rachel Joyce, Great Britain

Out of all these, only Hauschildt and Jackson are competing this Saturday in Hawaii. Carfrae has a new child. Wurtele and her triathlete husband both decided to skip Kona this year.

Hauschildt is the winner of the 2011 and 2013 Ironman 70.3 World Championships and the International Triathlon Union (ITU) Long Distance Triathlon World Championships. She came in 2nd behind Lawrence in 2016, beating Ryf by two positions.

Jackson was 2nd place in the 2013 70.3 race,

and Ryf came in 6th. Jackson finished in 3rd place in 2012.

If you can think of anyone else who might have a shot against Daniela Ryf, please leave a comment below