{"id":18314,"date":"2022-10-07T11:43:07","date_gmt":"2022-10-07T09:43:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.220triathlon.com\/?p=115830"},"modified":"2022-10-07T11:54:11","modified_gmt":"2022-10-07T09:54:11","slug":"daniela-ryf-in-kona-if-you-fall-apart-you-really-fall-apart","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/rss_feed\/daniela-ryf-in-kona-if-you-fall-apart-you-really-fall-apart\/","title":{"rendered":"Daniela Ryf: In Kona, if you fall apart you really fall apart"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>

By Tim Heming\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Friday, 07 October 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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Daniel Ryf<\/a> started the 2022 Ironman World Championship as the overriding favourite, but the reigning champion from St George struggled from the start to eventually finish eighth<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIn Kona, if you fall apart you really fall apart,\u201d said the five-time Ironman world champion and course record holder. \u201cThat\u2019s what happened today. It felt brutal.\u201d<\/p>\n

After emerging from the swim 7mins behind early race leader Lucy Charles-Barclay<\/a><\/strong>, normal service looked to be restored as Ryf laid down a race-best bike split.<\/p>\n

But as soon as they got on to the run she struggled in the oppressive conditions. Chelsea Sodaro<\/a><\/strong> was soon on her way to victory, with Charles-Barclay coming second and Anne Haug<\/a><\/strong> third.<\/p>\n

\u201cI tried everything, so I can\u2019t really be disappointed, but I\u2019m not ecstatic about the result,\u201d she added. \u201cBut that\u2019s sport. You invest a lot and sometimes it works out and sometimes not.\u201d<\/p>\n

Taking a risk<\/strong><\/h2>\n

After reclaiming her title in scintillating form<\/a><\/strong> in Utah and looking imperious in the Collins Cup<\/a><\/strong>, Ryf said she had prepared well for the defence of her crown on the neighbouring Hawaiian island of Maui.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t really have the answer as to what went wrong,\u201d she explained. \u201cOn the bike I didn\u2019t feel great and knew I had to take a bit of a risk if I wanted to win this race.<\/p>\n

\u201cI probably went a bit over my limit, but I\u2019m happy I did as it\u2019s the only way to try and win this race.<\/p>\n

\u201cComing off the bike with only a little lead and feeling bad I knew it was going to be a hard marathon.\u201d<\/p>\n

Never give up<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Daniela Ryf competes on the bike during the 2022 Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii (Credit: Ezra Shaw\/Getty Images for Ironman)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

Despite dropping through the field, the Swiss triathlete never considered dropping out.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s much easier to give up if something doesn\u2019t go great, but I always want to finish to show respect for the other athletes \u2013 and you never know what is going to happen.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had the jellyfish sting in 2018<\/a><\/strong>, and I wanted to give up but I could still change everything. But eventually I knew on the run that it wasn\u2019t going to happen today.\u201d\nDespite the defeat, Ryf remained magnanimous, and says it shows how she\u2019s developed as an individual over the year.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know how I\u2019d have reacted if I\u2019d not won in 2015, but for me now it\u2019s not life changing if I win or lose. It\u2019s a disappointment but not the end of the world.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s also nice to be happy for someone else and I was super happy for Chelsea. It\u2019s great to see other athletes coming through. She\u2019s a mum, and I don\u2019t know how she does it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ryf said that she\u2019ll now take a break from racing. \u201cThis race was the big goal and I put everything into this race. Unfortunately it didn\u2019t work out but I\u2019ll go home, have a bit of a holiday and move into my new house \u2013 so it\u2019s still exciting times ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n

Top image credit:<\/strong> Ezra Shaw\/Getty Images for Ironman<\/p>\n