Top GB long-distance pro Nikki Bartlett is a consistent presence on 70.3 and full Ironman podiums across the globe. Here’s how she got there…

By Nige Tassell

Published: Thursday, 06 July 2023 at 12:00 am

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A latecomer into the sport, GB pro Nikki Bartlett proved to be a fast learner, targeting long-distance events and quickly becoming a familiar face on Ironman and 70.3 podiums across Europe. Here’s her journey so far…

Who is Nikki Bartlett?

Unlike many of her contemporaries and fellow competitors, Nikki Bartlett’s triathlon journey didn’t involve junior and U23 racing. Indeed, the Cheltenham-born sports science graduate didn’t wholeheartedly convert to the sport until she was 25.

Before then, she was a high-level rower, but recurring rib injuries found her in search of a different route to sporting glory.

Since taking up the multisport gauntlet, sporting glory has most definitely been achieved.

Sidestepping Olympic-distance racing, Bartlett opted to go long right from the off and her early age-group success in ITU and ETU long-distance racing was soon replicated when she entered the world of Ironman.

The bike leg proved to be her strongest suit, her power no doubt aided by years of rowing training.

Over the years since, Bartlett has been no stranger to Ironman podiums across Europe, both 70.3 and full-distance.

Silver and bronze medals were accumulated in Pays d’Aix, Staffordshire, Norway, Wales, Weymouth and Edinburgh before she finally struck gold at Ironman Lanzarote.

That opened the floodgates, with victories subsequently racked up in Dun Laoghaire, Helvellyn and Marbella (twice).

That ever-growing collection of medals is testament to the decision she made back then, there’s surely still room for more silverware.

Ever the fierce competitor, you can bet her motivation to go harder, to go faster will never diminish.

How old is Nikki Bartlett?

Nikki Bartlett was born on 25 June 1987, making her 36 years of age.

Nikki Bartlett’s career highlights

June 2013: Silver lining

Despite finishing more than half an hour after the winner, her compatriot Catherine Faux, Bartlett takes silver in the 25-29 female age group category at the ITU Long Distance World Championships in Belfort in eastern France.

It is less than a year since she first took up the sport.

October 2014: Golden touch

At the ETU Challenge Half-Distance European Championships in Mallorca, Bartlett puts in a commanding performance to take gold in the 25-29 female age-group category.

Having posted the fastest splits in all three legs, her margin of victory is more than 28 minutes.

May 2016: Welcome to the podium

With the swim leg cancelled because the water temperature was too low, Bartlett takes full advantage at Ironman 70.3 Pay d’Aix.

In only her third 70.3 race, she secures bronze and her first step onto an Ironman podium of any description. Plenty more will follow.

September 2016: Top-three placing in first Ironman

After a further two 70.3 bronzes (in Staffordshire and Norway), Bartlett moves up to full distance to strong effect, taking another bronze, this time at Ironman Wales. She’s also the highest-placed British woman.

July 2017: Another Ironman podium

Following silver-medal performances at a pair of half-distance events (Challenge Salou and Ironman 70.3 Staffordshire), Bartlett climbs another podium in just her third full-distance race, coming home behind compatriot Lucy Gossage and Germany’s Diana Riesler at Ironman UK.

September 2018: Silver on the Dorset coast

Second place at Ironman 70.3 Weymouth caps another fine season, one that boasts a decent medal haul: bronze at Ironman events in both Lanzarote and Wales, and silver at 70.3 races in Staffordshire and Edinburgh.

That first victory remains elusive, though.

May 2019: Queen of Lanzarote

That evasive maiden victory arrives early the following season when Bartlett breaks the Ironman tape in the Canaries, conquering the island’s lunar landscape and dipping just under the 10-hour mark.

There’s another gold around her neck in her next race too, at Ironman 70.3 Dun Laoghaire in Ireland.

September 2020: Reaching the heights

The COVID-affected season is protracted and only starts for Bartlett in September, but it’s a happy return to racing.

She’s the only woman to break four hours this year at Helvellyn, leaving other talented Brits, such as Ruth Astle, India Lee and Lucy Buckingham eating her dust.

August 2021: An agonising fourth at the Tokyo Games

Alongside PTV1 athlete Alison Peasgood, Bartlett crosses the line in fourth, just behind the French pair of Annouck Curzillat and guide Celine Bousrez.

September 2021: Debut appearance in a world champs top 10

After nabbing a silver at Ironman UK in July, it’s back to half-distance racing for Bartlett.

At the Ironman 70.3 World Championships in St George in Utah, she breaks into a world champs top 10 for the first time, joining a Brit-heavy contingent there – Lucy Charles-Barclay, Kat Matthews, Emma Pallant-Browne and Holly Lawrence.

May 2022: Spanish gold

Approaching her 35th birthday, Bartlett continues to shift back and forth between 70.3 races and full Ironmans.

After a decent showing back in St George at the rearranged Ironman world champs (13th place), she returns home from Ironman 70.3 Marbella in possession of a winner’s medal following a comfortable win in Andalucia, the foundation of which is an imperious bike leg.

The season also sees silver medals bagged at Ironman Germany, Ironman 70.3 Dresden and Ironman 70.3 Cascais.

May 2023: A title retained

Bartlett flies back to southern Spain where she retains her 70.3 Marbella title, taking five minutes off her winning time of 12 months ago. “Probably one of my best performances I’ve put together,” she gushes afterwards. “These days don’t come often so I’m soaking it up.”

Nikki Bartlett in quotes

On her first experience of triathlon: “I started the sport as a complete novice. I couldn’t swim, bought a bike of £150 and had no long-distance running experience in me. I borrowed a lot of kit to get started.”

On balancing full- and half-distance racing: “Going into Ironman was completely different. 70.3 feels like it’s full-gas mode the whole time, but Ironman requires more careful planning.”

On her continued stimulation: “If I look at my age in the sport, I feel young and my motivation is so high that there’s not a day I get up and can’t be bothered. I’ll have to be forced to stop.”

What’s next for Nikki Bartlett?

Yet to put in a podium-threatening performance at the world championships in either Ironman distance (8th is currently her best, achieved at last year’s 70.3 event), Bartlett nonetheless feels that – although in her mid-thirties – time is on her side.

And she’s correct; she’s only been in the sport for ten years, less than half that of many alongside her on the start line. A top-five placing at either world championship in 2023 certainly shouldn’t be ruled out.

Top image credit: Octavio Passos/Getty Images for Ironman

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