Melbourne's Grace Thek claims victory at Ironman 70.3 Geelong after five years of podium finishes

Why it matters: After finishing second or third in the Ironman 70.3 Geelong event for the past five years, Melbourne's Grace Thek finally claimed the top spot with a time of 4:10:10, beating out 2019 winner Radka Kahlefeldt and defending champion Lotte Wilms of the Netherlands.

Setting the pace: Thek's victory at the Ironman 70.3 Geelong event comes after years of competing in the event and consistently placing second or third, making her win a well-deserved accomplishment.

What they are saying: "Feeling pretty great, it was a long time coming, five podiums, finally got that top step this year to make my sixth race here in Geelong and I’m absolutely thrilled to take the win against a classy field of women,” said Thek.

By the numbers:

• Grace Thek finished the race in 4:10:10, almost two and a half minutes ahead of Radka Kahlefeldt.
• Lotte Wilms of the Netherlands finished third.
• Thek finished the 1.9km swim in third place.

Between transition: Thek noted that her family's presence at the event made her win particularly special, as her grandparents watched for the first time and she had support from her aunties.

Through time: Thek worked hard to bridge the gap during the opening stages of the bike ride, eventually taking the lead about halfway through the second lap.

The bottom line: After years of placing second or third, Grace Thek's victory at the Ironman 70.3 Geelong event is a well-deserved accomplishment that was made particularly special by the support of her family and fellow Melbourne triathletes.

IRONMAN 70.3 Geelong – Women’s Professional Results

1. Grace Thek – 4:10:10
2. Radka Kahlefeldt – 4:12:39
3. Lotte Wilms – 4:14:28
4. Renee Kiley – 4:21:48
5. Sophie Perry – 4:22:30
6. Penny Slater – 4:26:16
7. Kate Gillespie-Jones – 4:29:13
8. Stephanie Demestichas – 4:30:17