“The Hardest Fight – Never Give Up”

Ironman New Zealand full Ironman Saturday 1st March 2025 —what a day. It started perfectly: I felt strong in the swim, led from the front, and came out of the water in first place, swimming the 3.8 k in 48:24. On the bike, my legs were powerful, and I found my rhythm immediately. I was right where I wanted to be.

Then, out of nowhere, at 80 km, a sharp pain hit my left knee—like a knife. It wasn’t something I could push through; it just took all the strength out of my leg. I tried everything—shifting my position, pushing more with my right leg—but nothing worked. The last 50 km were brutal. I was getting slower and slower, losing time, watching my race slip away. I closed the first lap of 90 k in 2:26:09 and I archivied the second lap in 2:51:43. But I refused to stop. The pain was so horrible that I discovered a new limit within myself, one I never imagined possible to endure. It became purely mental—how much suffering can you take and still keep going?

Coming into T2, running felt impossible. The pain was 10/10. I sat there for minutes, thinking, how am I going to do this? But I told myself: One step at a time. Keep moving. I started walking, then jogging, then walking again. And after 2 km, I could run. The incredible supporters on the run course and the volunteers kept me going when I wanted to stop. Their energy, their words—it made all the difference.

A huge thank you to my dad, who traveled all the way to New Zealand to support me. Having him out there the whole day meant everything. In the hardest moments, just knowing he was there gave me strength. I’m so grateful to have had him by my side for this one.

This race was far from what I had trained for, far from what I had dreamed of. But Ironman is not just about being strong—it’s about refusing to give up when everything goes wrong. I suffered, I dug deeper than ever, and I made it to that finish line. I run my marathon in 3:15:17 finishing my second full Ironman in 9:25:52 on the 6th place. And that’s exactly why I want to share this—because racing is not just about the result, it’s about the journey, the fight, and what it truly means to be an athlete.

Even as a pro, things don’t always go to plan. We struggle, we suffer, we have doubts. But that’s what makes this sport so special. The ability to keep pushing, to overcome, to cross that finish line no matter what.

Huge respect to every athlete out there who finished this race, who battled their own fight Thanks to every spectator and every volunteer who cheered and pushed me forward. This is the hard side of the sport, the reality behind the podiums and finish-line photos. Not every race goes as planned, but every race teaches you something.

Alot of positiv to take away for the rest of the season and valuable lesson learned.

Proud, despite everything. On to the next.