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Triathlon · Interesting Facts

Chapter 10: Women's Triathlon

10 parts · 10 tests · 100 facts · updated 16 October 2026 · markdown

Women who shaped the sport: Valerie Silk, Kona's women's firsts from 1983 to 2022, Women For Tri, Mirinda Carfrae's run, Kendall Gretsch, Kat Matthews, Erin Baker, Flora Duffy off-road and the road to equal Kona slots.

10.101The Woman Who Ran IRONMAN

Valerie Silk, race director and owner through the 1980s.

Test 1Valerie SilkTake a test

  1. She inherited the role from founders John and Judy Collins.

    Source: Slowtwitch, 'Valerie Silk, Matriarch of IRONMAN, Passes Away' (2025); USA Triathlon, 'Remembering Valerie Silk' (2025) · recall

  2. She ran them with her then-husband.

    Source: Slowtwitch, 'Valerie Silk, Matriarch of IRONMAN, Passes Away' (2025); USA Triathlon, 'Remembering Valerie Silk' (2025) · recall

  3. After the first event, she said, she could see it needed a race director.

    Source: Slowtwitch, 'Valerie Silk, Matriarch of IRONMAN, Passes Away' (2025); USA Triathlon, 'Remembering Valerie Silk' (2025) · recall

  4. Her company had taken over organising the race in 1981.

    Source: Slowtwitch, 'Valerie Silk, Matriarch of IRONMAN, Passes Away' (2025); USA Triathlon, 'Remembering Valerie Silk' (2025) · recall

  5. The company became the World Triathlon Corporation, later The IRONMAN Group.

    Source: Slowtwitch, 'Valerie Silk, Matriarch of IRONMAN, Passes Away' (2025); USA Triathlon, 'Remembering Valerie Silk' (2025) · recall

  6. She also oversaw the first professional prize purse in 1986.

    Source: Slowtwitch, 'Valerie Silk, Matriarch of IRONMAN, Passes Away' (2025); USA Triathlon, 'Remembering Valerie Silk' (2025) · recall

  7. Slowtwitch called her the matriarch of IRONMAN.

    Source: Slowtwitch, 'Valerie Silk, Matriarch of IRONMAN, Passes Away' (2025); USA Triathlon, 'Remembering Valerie Silk' (2025) · recall

  8. 1980, 1983, 1986 and 1989.

    Source: Slowtwitch, 'Valerie Silk, Matriarch of IRONMAN, Passes Away' (2025); USA Triathlon, 'Remembering Valerie Silk' (2025) · recall

  9. 1999, 2009 and 2025.

    Source: Slowtwitch, 'Valerie Silk, Matriarch of IRONMAN, Passes Away' (2025); USA Triathlon, 'Remembering Valerie Silk' (2025) · recall

  10. Jim Curl and Carl Thomas went in with her.

    Source: Slowtwitch, 'Valerie Silk, Matriarch of IRONMAN, Passes Away' (2025); USA Triathlon, 'Remembering Valerie Silk' (2025) · recall

10.102Kona's Women, 1983-1999

International winners, records and halls of fame.

Test 1Women's firsts at Kona ITake a test

  1. She also set a women's course record.

    Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, '44 years: A timeline of women at the Ironman World Championship' · recall

  2. Her 1983 time was 10:43:36.

    Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, '44 years: A timeline of women at the Ironman World Championship' · recall

  3. Newby-Fraser lowered it three years later.

    Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, '44 years: A timeline of women at the Ironman World Championship' · recall

  4. It was the year Kona first paid prize money.

    Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, '44 years: A timeline of women at the Ironman World Championship' · recall

  5. Her 1982 finish had been shown on ABC.

    Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, '44 years: A timeline of women at the Ironman World Championship' · recall

  6. She had become the first woman under nine hours at Kona in 1992.

    Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, '44 years: A timeline of women at the Ironman World Championship' · recall

  7. The timeline lists her among the women's milestones.

    Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, '44 years: A timeline of women at the Ironman World Championship' · recall

  8. 1979, 1983, 1986 and 1992.

    Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, '44 years: A timeline of women at the Ironman World Championship' · recall

  9. 1983, 1994, 1997 and 1999.

    Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, '44 years: A timeline of women at the Ironman World Championship' · recall

  10. Professional men and women received the same.

    Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, '44 years: A timeline of women at the Ironman World Championship' · recall

10.103Kona's Women, 2000-2022

Oldest finishers, doubles, handcyclists and announcers.

Test 1Women's firsts at Kona IITake a test

  1. Older women followed her in later years.

    Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, '44 years: A timeline of women at the Ironman World Championship' · recall

  2. Two years later she broke Newby-Fraser's best time.

    Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, '44 years: A timeline of women at the Ironman World Championship' · recall

  3. Daniela Ryf became the second, in 2015.

    Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, '44 years: A timeline of women at the Ironman World Championship' · recall

  4. She finished in 14:39:14.

    Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, '44 years: A timeline of women at the Ironman World Championship' · recall

  5. She finished in 16:56:51.

    Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, '44 years: A timeline of women at the Ironman World Championship' · recall

  6. Ryf set a course best of 8:46:46 the same day.

    Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, '44 years: A timeline of women at the Ironman World Championship' · recall

  7. It was also the year of equal professional slots.

    Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, '44 years: A timeline of women at the Ironman World Championship' · recall

  8. 2000, 2007, 2012 and 2013.

    Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, '44 years: A timeline of women at the Ironman World Championship' · recall

  9. 2016, 2019 and 2022.

    Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, '44 years: A timeline of women at the Ironman World Championship' · recall

  10. They were Liza and Beth James.

    Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, '44 years: A timeline of women at the Ironman World Championship' · recall

10.104Women For Tri

IRONMAN's push to bring more women into the sport.

Test 1Women For TriTake a test

  1. It works to raise female participation at every level.

    Source: IRONMAN Foundation, 'Women For Tri' (ironmanfoundation.org); Endurance Business (2016); Free Play Magazine · recall

  2. Its founding board was co-led by staff from both companies.

    Source: IRONMAN Foundation, 'Women For Tri' (ironmanfoundation.org); Endurance Business (2016); Free Play Magazine · recall

  3. The board added three members in 2016.

    Source: IRONMAN Foundation, 'Women For Tri' (ironmanfoundation.org); Endurance Business (2016); Free Play Magazine · recall

  4. It set out to find and remove the real barriers to entry.

    Source: IRONMAN Foundation, 'Women For Tri' (ironmanfoundation.org); Endurance Business (2016); Free Play Magazine · recall

  5. IRONMAN reported more than 62,000 female athletes.

    Source: IRONMAN Foundation, 'Women For Tri' (ironmanfoundation.org); Endurance Business (2016); Free Play Magazine · recall

  6. The rise was 18% in a year.

    Source: IRONMAN Foundation, 'Women For Tri' (ironmanfoundation.org); Endurance Business (2016); Free Play Magazine · recall

  7. By 2016 grants had passed $200,000.

    Source: IRONMAN Foundation, 'Women For Tri' (ironmanfoundation.org); Endurance Business (2016); Free Play Magazine · recall

  8. 2015, the first year, then 2016.

    Source: IRONMAN Foundation, 'Women For Tri' (ironmanfoundation.org); Endurance Business (2016); Free Play Magazine · recall

  9. 10, 12, 28 and more than 62,000.

    Source: IRONMAN Foundation, 'Women For Tri' (ironmanfoundation.org); Endurance Business (2016); Free Play Magazine · recall

  10. In 2016 grants were opened to Europe and Asia-Pacific.

    Source: IRONMAN Foundation, 'Women For Tri' (ironmanfoundation.org); Endurance Business (2016); Free Play Magazine · recall

10.105Carfrae's Run

A 14-minute deficit closed on the 2014 Kona marathon.

Test 1Mirinda Carfrae's 2014 runTake a test

  1. Slowtwitch put the gap at 14:33.

    Source: Slowtwitch, 'Kienle, Carfrae take Kona' (2014); Swimming World (2014); Triathlon Magazine Canada timeline · recall

  2. Only four men ran faster that day.

    Source: Slowtwitch, 'Kienle, Carfrae take Kona' (2014); Swimming World (2014); Triathlon Magazine Canada timeline · recall

  3. She went on to win comfortably.

    Source: Slowtwitch, 'Kienle, Carfrae take Kona' (2014); Swimming World (2014); Triathlon Magazine Canada timeline · recall

  4. Ryf finished in 9:02:57.

    Source: Slowtwitch, 'Kienle, Carfrae take Kona' (2014); Swimming World (2014); Triathlon Magazine Canada timeline · recall

  5. Her 8:52:14 a year earlier had been the course best.

    Source: Slowtwitch, 'Kienle, Carfrae take Kona' (2014); Swimming World (2014); Triathlon Magazine Canada timeline · recall

  6. She held the women's run record at Kona.

    Source: Slowtwitch, 'Kienle, Carfrae take Kona' (2014); Swimming World (2014); Triathlon Magazine Canada timeline · recall

  7. Slowtwitch noted it the day after.

    Source: Slowtwitch, 'Kienle, Carfrae take Kona' (2014); Swimming World (2014); Triathlon Magazine Canada timeline · recall

  8. 1992, 2009, 2013 and 2016.

    Source: Slowtwitch, 'Kienle, Carfrae take Kona' (2014); Swimming World (2014); Triathlon Magazine Canada timeline · recall

  9. She ran 2:50:26.

    Source: Slowtwitch, 'Kienle, Carfrae take Kona' (2014); Swimming World (2014); Triathlon Magazine Canada timeline · recall

  10. Ryf would win the next four titles.

    Source: Slowtwitch, 'Kienle, Carfrae take Kona' (2014); Swimming World (2014); Triathlon Magazine Canada timeline · recall

10.106Kendall Gretsch

Paralympic gold in summer and winter.

Test 1Kendall GretschTake a test

  1. She races in the wheelchair class.

    Source: USA Triathlon, 'Paratriathlete Kendall Gretsch sprints to historic Paralympic gold' (2021); Washington University, 'Good as gold' (2022); World Triathlon, 'Paralympics history' · recall

  2. She won both her events.

    Source: USA Triathlon, 'Paratriathlete Kendall Gretsch sprints to historic Paralympic gold' (2021); Washington University, 'Good as gold' (2022); World Triathlon, 'Paralympics history' · recall

  3. One was in cross-country skiing.

    Source: USA Triathlon, 'Paratriathlete Kendall Gretsch sprints to historic Paralympic gold' (2021); Washington University, 'Good as gold' (2022); World Triathlon, 'Paralympics history' · recall

  4. Rio 2016 had held no women's wheelchair triathlon.

    Source: USA Triathlon, 'Paratriathlete Kendall Gretsch sprints to historic Paralympic gold' (2021); Washington University, 'Good as gold' (2022); World Triathlon, 'Paralympics history' · recall

  5. Few athletes have won gold at both Summer and Winter Paralympics.

    Source: USA Triathlon, 'Paratriathlete Kendall Gretsch sprints to historic Paralympic gold' (2021); Washington University, 'Good as gold' (2022); World Triathlon, 'Paralympics history' · recall

  6. She finished in 1:07:46.

    Source: USA Triathlon, 'Paratriathlete Kendall Gretsch sprints to historic Paralympic gold' (2021); Washington University, 'Good as gold' (2022); World Triathlon, 'Paralympics history' · recall

  7. Parker had been second in Tokyo.

    Source: USA Triathlon, 'Paratriathlete Kendall Gretsch sprints to historic Paralympic gold' (2021); Washington University, 'Good as gold' (2022); World Triathlon, 'Paralympics history' · recall

  8. 2018, 2021, 2022 and 2024.

    Source: USA Triathlon, 'Paratriathlete Kendall Gretsch sprints to historic Paralympic gold' (2021); Washington University, 'Good as gold' (2022); World Triathlon, 'Paralympics history' · recall

  9. 1:06:23, 1:07:46 and 1:12:11.

    Source: USA Triathlon, 'Paratriathlete Kendall Gretsch sprints to historic Paralympic gold' (2021); Washington University, 'Good as gold' (2022); World Triathlon, 'Paralympics history' · recall

  10. Her 2018 biathlon gold was the first biathlon medal for an American woman at an Olympics or Paralympics.

    Source: USA Triathlon, 'Paratriathlete Kendall Gretsch sprints to historic Paralympic gold' (2021); Washington University, 'Good as gold' (2022); World Triathlon, 'Paralympics history' · recall

10.107Kat Matthews

An Army physiotherapist's comeback from a crash.

Test 1Kat MatthewsTake a test

  1. She is a captain in the British Army.

    Source: Slowtwitch, 'Kat Matthews hit by driver in Texas' (2022); Tri247, 'Hospital bed to IRONMAN champion' (2023); Forces News (2023) · recall

  2. Forces News followed her comeback.

    Source: Slowtwitch, 'Kat Matthews hit by driver in Texas' (2022); Tri247, 'Hospital bed to IRONMAN champion' (2023); Forces News (2023) · recall

  3. A car crossing the road struck her group.

    Source: Slowtwitch, 'Kat Matthews hit by driver in Texas' (2022); Tri247, 'Hospital bed to IRONMAN champion' (2023); Forces News (2023) · recall

  4. They included her skull, vertebrae and sternum.

    Source: Slowtwitch, 'Kat Matthews hit by driver in Texas' (2022); Tri247, 'Hospital bed to IRONMAN champion' (2023); Forces News (2023) · recall

  5. Her first race back had been 70.3 Oceanside, where she was third.

    Source: Slowtwitch, 'Kat Matthews hit by driver in Texas' (2022); Tri247, 'Hospital bed to IRONMAN champion' (2023); Forces News (2023) · recall

  6. She later pulled out of Kona that year.

    Source: Slowtwitch, 'Kat Matthews hit by driver in Texas' (2022); Tri247, 'Hospital bed to IRONMAN champion' (2023); Forces News (2023) · recall

  7. She was one of the favourites for Kona in 2022.

    Source: Slowtwitch, 'Kat Matthews hit by driver in Texas' (2022); Tri247, 'Hospital bed to IRONMAN champion' (2023); Forces News (2023) · recall

  8. May 2022, September 2022, October 2022 and April 2023 twice.

    Source: Slowtwitch, 'Kat Matthews hit by driver in Texas' (2022); Tri247, 'Hospital bed to IRONMAN champion' (2023); Forces News (2023) · recall

  9. April, April, August and October.

    Source: Slowtwitch, 'Kat Matthews hit by driver in Texas' (2022); Tri247, 'Hospital bed to IRONMAN champion' (2023); Forces News (2023) · recall

  10. She returned to racing the following spring.

    Source: Slowtwitch, 'Kat Matthews hit by driver in Texas' (2022); Tri247, 'Hospital bed to IRONMAN champion' (2023); Forces News (2023) · recall

10.108Erin Baker

A protester, a pioneer of equal pay and a nine-time world champion.

Test 1Erin BakerTake a test

  1. She later lived and trained in Christchurch.

    Source: The Spinoff, 'The triathlete who won and won and won' (2022); Professional Triathletes Organisation, 'Erin Baker' (2022) · recall

  2. Her mother chaired the local branch of the coalition against the tour.

    Source: The Spinoff, 'The triathlete who won and won and won' (2022); Professional Triathletes Organisation, 'Erin Baker' (2022) · recall

  3. It kept her out of races in America.

    Source: The Spinoff, 'The triathlete who won and won and won' (2022); Professional Triathletes Organisation, 'Erin Baker' (2022) · recall

  4. She rode off the course to her hotel; she won in Hawaii the next year despite cramp.

    Source: The Spinoff, 'The triathlete who won and won and won' (2022); Professional Triathletes Organisation, 'Erin Baker' (2022) · recall

  5. She retired in 1994.

    Source: The Spinoff, 'The triathlete who won and won and won' (2022); Professional Triathletes Organisation, 'Erin Baker' (2022) · recall

  6. They spanned short, middle and Ironman distances.

    Source: The Spinoff, 'The triathlete who won and won and won' (2022); Professional Triathletes Organisation, 'Erin Baker' (2022) · recall

  7. She also spoke at the ITU Congress.

    Source: The Spinoff, 'The triathlete who won and won and won' (2022); Professional Triathletes Organisation, 'Erin Baker' (2022) · recall

  8. 1981, 1985, 1987 and 1994.

    Source: The Spinoff, 'The triathlete who won and won and won' (2022); Professional Triathletes Organisation, 'Erin Baker' (2022) · recall

  9. 9, 104 and 121.

    Source: The Spinoff, 'The triathlete who won and won and won' (2022); Professional Triathletes Organisation, 'Erin Baker' (2022) · recall

  10. US Triathlete magazine later named her Triathlete of the Decade.

    Source: The Spinoff, 'The triathlete who won and won and won' (2022); Professional Triathletes Organisation, 'Erin Baker' (2022) · recall

10.109Duffy Off-Road

Flora Duffy's XTERRA and cross triathlon titles.

Test 1Flora Duffy's off-road titlesTake a test

  1. Tri247 called her the only elite to win four straight.

    Source: Slowtwitch, 'Olympic Champion Flora Duffy Wins 6th XTERRA Worlds' (2021); Tri247, 'XTERRA World Champs 2017 report'; Trizone · recall

  2. It came weeks after her Olympic gold.

    Source: Slowtwitch, 'Olympic Champion Flora Duffy Wins 6th XTERRA Worlds' (2021); Tri247, 'XTERRA World Champs 2017 report'; Trizone · recall

  3. The race became a duathlon.

    Source: Slowtwitch, 'Olympic Champion Flora Duffy Wins 6th XTERRA Worlds' (2021); Tri247, 'XTERRA World Champs 2017 report'; Trizone · recall

  4. She won all three in the same season.

    Source: Slowtwitch, 'Olympic Champion Flora Duffy Wins 6th XTERRA Worlds' (2021); Tri247, 'XTERRA World Champs 2017 report'; Trizone · recall

  5. She also won XTERRA world titles those years.

    Source: Slowtwitch, 'Olympic Champion Flora Duffy Wins 6th XTERRA Worlds' (2021); Tri247, 'XTERRA World Champs 2017 report'; Trizone · recall

  6. Off-road racing was where she first dominated.

    Source: Slowtwitch, 'Olympic Champion Flora Duffy Wins 6th XTERRA Worlds' (2021); Tri247, 'XTERRA World Champs 2017 report'; Trizone · recall

  7. She won Olympic-distance world titles in 2016, 2017, 2021 and 2022.

    Source: Slowtwitch, 'Olympic Champion Flora Duffy Wins 6th XTERRA Worlds' (2021); Tri247, 'XTERRA World Champs 2017 report'; Trizone · recall

  8. 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2021.

    Source: Slowtwitch, 'Olympic Champion Flora Duffy Wins 6th XTERRA Worlds' (2021); Tri247, 'XTERRA World Champs 2017 report'; Trizone · recall

  9. 2, 4 and 6.

    Source: Slowtwitch, 'Olympic Champion Flora Duffy Wins 6th XTERRA Worlds' (2021); Tri247, 'XTERRA World Champs 2017 report'; Trizone · recall

  10. She went on to win the next three as well.

    Source: Slowtwitch, 'Olympic Champion Flora Duffy Wins 6th XTERRA Worlds' (2021); Tri247, 'XTERRA World Champs 2017 report'; Trizone · recall

10.110The Road to Equal Slots

How women's places at Kona caught up with the men's.

Test 1Equal Kona slotsTake a test

  1. It was the first points-based pro ranking for Kona.

    Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, '44 years: A timeline of women at the Ironman World Championship'; IRONMAN release on the 2023 race days (Endurance Sportswire) · recall

  2. Campaigners later pressed for equal numbers.

    Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, '44 years: A timeline of women at the Ironman World Championship'; IRONMAN release on the 2023 race days (Endurance Sportswire) · recall

  3. There were 56 male pros, so the gap had narrowed from 2011.

    Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, '44 years: A timeline of women at the Ironman World Championship'; IRONMAN release on the 2023 race days (Endurance Sportswire) · recall

  4. The two-day format had begun in Kona a year earlier.

    Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, '44 years: A timeline of women at the Ironman World Championship'; IRONMAN release on the 2023 race days (Endurance Sportswire) · recall

  5. It came with a two-day format.

    Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, '44 years: A timeline of women at the Ironman World Championship'; IRONMAN release on the 2023 race days (Endurance Sportswire) · recall

  6. It was 6 October; the men raced on the Saturday.

    Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, '44 years: A timeline of women at the Ironman World Championship'; IRONMAN release on the 2023 race days (Endurance Sportswire) · recall

  7. The format went on in 2023 with separate venues.

    Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, '44 years: A timeline of women at the Ironman World Championship'; IRONMAN release on the 2023 race days (Endurance Sportswire) · recall

  8. 2011, 2019, 2022 and 2023.

    Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, '44 years: A timeline of women at the Ironman World Championship'; IRONMAN release on the 2023 race days (Endurance Sportswire) · recall

  9. 35, 44, 50 and 56.

    Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, '44 years: A timeline of women at the Ironman World Championship'; IRONMAN release on the 2023 race days (Endurance Sportswire) · recall

  10. IRONMAN gave each race its own day and stage.

    Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, '44 years: A timeline of women at the Ironman World Championship'; IRONMAN release on the 2023 race days (Endurance Sportswire) · recall

Sources

Primary/official sources only, no Wikipedia citations: IRONMAN and the IRONMAN Foundation, USA Triathlon, World Triathlon, the PTO, Triathlon Magazine Canada, Slowtwitch, The Spinoff, Tri247, Forces News, Washington University.

  • Triathlon Magazine Canada, '44 years: A timeline of women at the Ironman World Championship'20
  • Slowtwitch, 'Valerie Silk, Matriarch of IRONMAN, Passes Away' (2025); USA Triathlon, 'Remembering Valerie Silk' (2025)10
  • IRONMAN Foundation, 'Women For Tri' (ironmanfoundation.org); Endurance Business (2016); Free Play Magazine10
  • Slowtwitch, 'Kienle, Carfrae take Kona' (2014); Swimming World (2014); Triathlon Magazine Canada timeline10
  • USA Triathlon, 'Paratriathlete Kendall Gretsch sprints to historic Paralympic gold' (2021); Washington University, 'Good as gold' (2022); World Triathlon, 'Paralympics history'10
  • Slowtwitch, 'Kat Matthews hit by driver in Texas' (2022); Tri247, 'Hospital bed to IRONMAN champion' (2023); Forces News (2023)10
  • The Spinoff, 'The triathlete who won and won and won' (2022); Professional Triathletes Organisation, 'Erin Baker' (2022)10
  • Slowtwitch, 'Olympic Champion Flora Duffy Wins 6th XTERRA Worlds' (2021); Tri247, 'XTERRA World Champs 2017 report'; Trizone10
  • Triathlon Magazine Canada, '44 years: A timeline of women at the Ironman World Championship'; IRONMAN release on the 2023 race days (Endurance Sportswire)10