Three von Bergs will make History at Ironman 70.3 World Championship

For the first time in Ironman history, three members of the same family will be at the start of an Ironman race, let alone a World Championship race, held in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.

American Rodolphe (Rudy) von Berg Jr, 24, member of RYDYourDreams and of Colnago Bikes, will be representing the USA in the professional race with BIB no.4. Rudy is in the middle of the best season of his young career, having won both the iconic Wildflower Triathlon and the Ironman 70.3 European Championship in Elsinore, Denmark last June. He followed that with a 2nd at Ironman 70.3 Mt Tremblant behind Canadian great Lionel Sanders. In 2017, he finished 13th at the IM 70.3 World Championship in Tennessee. Rudy is coached by Belgian 2-time Hawaii winner Luc Van Lierde and, being ranked 5th in the World IM 70.3 Ranking, is a serious contender for a Top 10.

Olympia von Berg, 28, his older sister, will also be representing the USA, but in the AG 25-29. She started Triathlon last November and qualified for Worlds by winning her AG on her first race ever at IM 70.3 Texas. Later, she also finished 4th at IM 70.3 St George, Utah. She will race with no expectations and will participate to discover and learn for the future. Olympia is now coached by 2-time Hawaii winner American Tim DeBoom.

Rodolphe von Berg Sr, will be competing for Belgium in the AG 60-64, having qualified by winning IM 70.3 Bahrain last November. He is an 8-time ITU & IM World Champion whose goal will be to regain the world title he had won in Australia in 2016 but relinquished by ending 2nd in Chattanooga last year. He won AG 60-64 at IM 70.3 Gdynia, Poland, 2 weeks ago. He is one of two AGroupers, with Jeff Cuddeback, to have won World titles in 3 different categories (ITU, 70.3, IM).

The « 2 Rudys », father and son, will share this racing experience for the 2nd time in a World 70.3 Championship, after 2017 World 70.3 in Tennessee where they finished respectively 2nd and 13th. Needless to say, they expect a different and improved outcome this time. It will be the first time that sister and daughter Olympia will compete during the same weekend of World IM 70.3 Championship.