This year was no different as it welcomed three former champions, two Brits, and one debutant \u2013 who is many people\u2019s choice to win the title \u2013 to give their thoughts ahead of an intriguing showdown at the weekend. We picked out some of the best quotes for you.<\/p>
- How to watch the Ironman World Championship in Kona<\/a><\/strong><\/li><\/ul>
Sarah True<\/strong><\/h2>
USA\u2019s Ironman Frankfurt winner\u00a0Sarah True<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>on why her Kona build-up has been a bit different from the other female pros: \u201cPut it this way. Tomorrow I have a research paper due, and I have a two-year-old to look after, and then I have to race well\u2026 but at least I won\u2019t have to babysit for 9hr.<\/p>
\u201cI love still being able to play triathlon, and to play triathlon against the best is pretty awesome.\u201d<\/p>
Kat Matthews<\/strong><\/h2>
British pro triathlete Kat Matthews finishes second in the 2023 Ironman women’s 70.3 World Championships in Lahti, Finland. (Credit: Nigel Roddis\/Getty Images for Ironman)<\/figcaption><\/figure> Britain\u2019s Ironman 70.3 worlds runner-up\u00a0Kat Matthews<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0on being fit to start the race having missed out last year after being hit by car when training in Texas<\/strong><\/a>: \u201cSigning my name on the list of the incredible athletes I\u2019m joining here was a pretty big moment considering last year I was the only name not able to sign in.<\/p>
\u201cIt still feels a little bit emotionally challenging, but I\u2019m getting all that out of the way so I can perform on race day.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>
Lisa Norden<\/strong><\/h2>
Sweden\u2019s 2012 Olympic silver medallist\u00a0Lisa Norden<\/strong>\u00a0on winning Ironman Kalmar in Sweden in August: \u201cBeing Swedish, I don\u2019t get the opportunity to race at home very often. I had the WTS race in Stockholm and now Kalmar, and there were probably 10 years in between.<\/p>
It\u2019s a moment to really savour. Everybody told me that Kalmar was a special Ironman and I was a bit like: \u2018Well, I\u2019ve done the Olympic Games and world champs so how cool can Kalmar be? But it absolutely blew me away with the support. That crowd!<\/p>
\u201cIf you ever want to do an Ironman, definitely go to Kalmar!\u201d<\/p>
On a change in training focus: \u201cI invested a lot of time in rebuilding my body over the winter and not training so much running, biking and swimming but focusing on the demands of being able to handle race-day.<\/p>
\u201cWhen you get a bit older it\u2019s not, how can I train more, it\u2019s how can my body function better? It\u2019s been nerve-wracking but interesting to see how the body comes around and is stronger and fitter.\u201d<\/p>
Laura Philipp<\/strong><\/h2>
![\"Laura](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2022\/06\/laura-philipp-wins-ironman-finland-a0f256f.jpg?fit=1024,1024\")
Laura Philipp reacts after winning Ironman Finland in 2021 (Credit: Jan Hetfleisch\/Getty Images for Ironman)<\/figcaption><\/figure> Germany\u2019s\u00a0Laura Philipp<\/a>,<\/strong>\u00a0who placed fourth in Kona last year, on how it will feel on race day with only women on the course: \u201cIt\u2019s great to be surrounded by so much female power. That\u2019s something we are not used to in triathlon.<\/p>
\u201cWe deserve the full focus and I\u2019m looking forward to sharing the course with more than 2,000 amazing ladies.\u201d<\/p>
Taylor Knibb<\/strong><\/h2>
Ironman 70.3 world champion<\/a><\/strong> and full distance rookie\u00a0Taylor Knibb<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0on what will constitute success on Saturday: \u201cI still have to figure that out, but what I\u2019ve heard \u2013 and I\u2019ve never done Ironman \u2013 is that it\u2019s about overcoming challenges.<\/p>
\u201cYou can\u2019t predict what challenges will occur. I watched the broadcast and saw Normann Stadler dominate in 2004 and 2006, and in 2005 he had a flat tyre, so there are so many things you can\u2019t control. How you overcome them is the measure of success to me.\u201d<\/p>
And on racing with her mum, Leslie, on Saturday: \u201cI know she\u2019s very nervous for me, but said that if anything happens and I can\u2019t finish, she doesn\u2019t want to be a bad mum by finishing her own race. So she made me promise that whatever happens we will each finish our races.<\/p>
\u201cShe claims it\u2019s going to be her last Ironman, so to share the course on my first Ironman, it\u2019s not going to be a passing of the torch, but it sort of is.\u201d<\/p>
Daniela Ryf<\/strong><\/h2>
![\"Daniela](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2022\/10\/daniela-ryf-racing-2022-ironman-world-championship-b95c1e1.jpg\")
Daniela Ryf competes during the 2022 Ironman World Championship in Hawaii (Credit: Ezra Shaw\/Getty Images for Ironman)<\/figcaption><\/figure> Five-time Ironman world champion\u00a0Daniela Ryf<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0on her first race in Hawaii in 2014: \u201cExperience can be helpful, but I also remember how I raced here the first time, and sometimes it\u2019s also good to not to think too much.<\/p>
\u201cI\u2019ve learned a lot through the years, but it can also scare you to know how hard it is.\u201d<\/p>
On the potential to become a six-time Ironman champion alongside Natasha Badmann, Paula Newby-Fraser, Mark Allen and Dave Scott<\/strong><\/a>: \u201cI try not to think about it too much, but it would be a huge honour to join the club.<\/p>
\u201cThey are all amazing athletes and what they\u2019ve done for the sport is pretty special, but what\u2019s more important for me is that I can have a race I\u2019m proud of. I haven\u2019t had that the last two times I raced here.\u201d<\/p>
Anne Haug<\/strong><\/h2>
Anne Haug<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0the 2019 Ironman world champion, on the advice she\u2019d give women looking to take up the sport: \u201cI think the first step is always to have good company and have fun.<\/p>
\u201cTriathlon is an endurance sport and needs regular training, and if you\u2019re not having fun it can be a burden. Look for a great club and great training partners.\u201d<\/p>
Lucy Charles-Barclay<\/strong><\/h2>
Four-time Hawaii runner-up\u00a0Lucy Charles-Barclay<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0on the quality of the field she\u2019s up against: \u201cIt will be the toughest race I\u2019ve had on the island.<\/p>
\u201cThe conditions play into it but the stellar field we have this year is going to be the biggest factor on the day.\u201d<\/p>
Chelsea Sodaro<\/strong><\/h2>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/c02.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/46\/2023\/10\/ironman-world-champs-womens-press-conference-2023.jpg?fit=1024,798\")
Some of the top pro women speak to the press ahead of the 2023 Ironman World Championship in Kona (Credit: Donald Miralle for Ironman)<\/figcaption><\/figure> Chelsea Sodaro<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0on being reigning world champion: \u201cI knew this race was a big deal and you feel it when you\u2019re here, but I didn’t realise how many people cared about the title and how it transcends triathlon.<\/p>
\u201cI\u2019ve been talking all week about how I come from a very service-minded family, and I\u2019m an athlete which can be a very selfish pursuit. But I said to my husband, I want to do something pretty good with this victory.<\/p>
\u201cI love triathlon, but I believe in the power of sport that it brings us altogether and teaches us so much about ourselves.<\/p>
\u201cI\u2019m so fortunate to have such amazing partners who have rallied with me to celebrate women\u2019s sport<\/strong><\/a> and make it more than the end result.\u201d<\/p>
Top image credit: <\/strong>Patrick McDermott\/Getty Images for Ironman<\/p>
- Who will win the women’s Ironman World Championship in Kona?<\/a><\/strong><\/li>
- How much can athletes win at the Ironman World Championship in Kona?<\/a><\/strong><\/li><\/ul>
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- How much can athletes win at the Ironman World Championship in Kona?<\/a><\/strong><\/li><\/ul>
- Who will win the women’s Ironman World Championship in Kona?<\/a><\/strong><\/li>