Katrina Matthews

Kat Matthews’ record of achievements is impressive – even more so considering that the British athlete has only been into professional triathlon since 2019 and completed her very first triathlon ever in 2015. In her first year as a pro, she finished three 70.3 races on the podium, won the ETU middle distance championships in the elite category and came in fourth (pro women) on her long-distance debut in 8:53 hours.

The trained physiotherapist, who is a member of the British Army, took her first Ironman victory in Florida in 2020 – a year in which she won pretty much every one of the pandemic-induced only few races she competed in. It was the start of a winning streak that has continued through 2021 (including 2nd place IM Tulsa, 1st place IM UK Bolton) and in 2022 (1st place 70.3 Lanzarote).

Since 2021 Kat is coached by Björn Geesmann, of whom she says his approach is “quite different” from what she did before: train like an age grouper who “just had more time on their hands”. And she is well on her way to many more podium finishes with this “different approach” – also and especially to some that end on the highest step, the one in the middle of the podium.