5th Ironman World Championship for Daniela Ryf

Fantastic achievement for Daniela Ryf: The Solothurn native won her fifth world championship title over the Ironman distance on Saturday in St. George (Utah).

On the heels of a challenging 2021 season, Ryf made a triumphant return to the Ironman field, putting on an impressive performance against the very best of the world.  The 34-year-old displayed incredible athletic prowess, crowning herself world champion nearly nine minutes ahead of second-placed Brit Kat Matthews.

The key to Daniela Ryf’s fifth world championship title was her performance on the bike course, where she was able to pull away from her competitors in a decisive manner. Completing the race’s final leg with a marathon under three hours, she put an exclamation mark behind an incredible race, arriving at the finish line after 8:34:59 hours.

"After two and half years of waiting for this race, I couldn’t be any happier with the way it went”, said Ryf after crossing the finish line in St. George. "The last ten kilometers were so brutal, I just wanted to lie down. But this finish in front of so many fans and in front of my team was well worth it. What a day."

Ryf will now travel back to Switzerland. Her next start is scheduled for June 19 at the Ironman 70.3 in Rapperswil (SUI).

Photo Credit: @korupttv