# Chapter 10: Women's Triathlon

Triathlon · Chapter 10: Women's Triathlon · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/triathlon/interesting-facts/chapter-10-womens-triathlon/)

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.

## 10.101 The Woman Who Ran IRONMAN

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

### Test 1: Valerie Silk

- 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))
- She ran them with her then-husband. (Source: Slowtwitch, 'Valerie Silk, Matriarch of IRONMAN, Passes Away' (2025); USA Triathlon, 'Remembering Valerie Silk' (2025))
- 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))
- 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))
- 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))
- 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))
- Slowtwitch called her the matriarch of IRONMAN. (Source: Slowtwitch, 'Valerie Silk, Matriarch of IRONMAN, Passes Away' (2025); USA Triathlon, 'Remembering Valerie Silk' (2025))
- 1980, 1983, 1986 and 1989. (Source: Slowtwitch, 'Valerie Silk, Matriarch of IRONMAN, Passes Away' (2025); USA Triathlon, 'Remembering Valerie Silk' (2025))
- 1999, 2009 and 2025. (Source: Slowtwitch, 'Valerie Silk, Matriarch of IRONMAN, Passes Away' (2025); USA Triathlon, 'Remembering Valerie Silk' (2025))
- 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))

## 10.102 Kona's Women, 1983-1999

International winners, records and halls of fame.

### Test 1: Women's firsts at Kona I

- She also set a women's course record. (Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, '44 years: A timeline of women at the Ironman World Championship')
- Her 1983 time was 10:43:36. (Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, '44 years: A timeline of women at the Ironman World Championship')
- Newby-Fraser lowered it three years later. (Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, '44 years: A timeline of women at the Ironman World Championship')
- It was the year Kona first paid prize money. (Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, '44 years: A timeline of women at the Ironman World Championship')
- Her 1982 finish had been shown on ABC. (Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, '44 years: A timeline of women at the Ironman World Championship')
- 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')
- The timeline lists her among the women's milestones. (Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, '44 years: A timeline of women at the Ironman World Championship')
- 1979, 1983, 1986 and 1992. (Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, '44 years: A timeline of women at the Ironman World Championship')
- 1983, 1994, 1997 and 1999. (Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, '44 years: A timeline of women at the Ironman World Championship')
- Professional men and women received the same. (Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, '44 years: A timeline of women at the Ironman World Championship')

## 10.103 Kona's Women, 2000-2022

Oldest finishers, doubles, handcyclists and announcers.

### Test 1: Women's firsts at Kona II

- Older women followed her in later years. (Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, '44 years: A timeline of women at the Ironman World Championship')
- 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')
- Daniela Ryf became the second, in 2015. (Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, '44 years: A timeline of women at the Ironman World Championship')
- She finished in 14:39:14. (Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, '44 years: A timeline of women at the Ironman World Championship')
- She finished in 16:56:51. (Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, '44 years: A timeline of women at the Ironman World Championship')
- 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')
- It was also the year of equal professional slots. (Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, '44 years: A timeline of women at the Ironman World Championship')
- 2000, 2007, 2012 and 2013. (Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, '44 years: A timeline of women at the Ironman World Championship')
- 2016, 2019 and 2022. (Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, '44 years: A timeline of women at the Ironman World Championship')
- They were Liza and Beth James. (Source: Triathlon Magazine Canada, '44 years: A timeline of women at the Ironman World Championship')

## 10.104 Women For Tri

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

### Test 1: Women For Tri

- It works to raise female participation at every level. (Source: IRONMAN Foundation, 'Women For Tri' (ironmanfoundation.org); Endurance Business (2016); Free Play Magazine)
- 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)
- The board added three members in 2016. (Source: IRONMAN Foundation, 'Women For Tri' (ironmanfoundation.org); Endurance Business (2016); Free Play Magazine)
- 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)
- IRONMAN reported more than 62,000 female athletes. (Source: IRONMAN Foundation, 'Women For Tri' (ironmanfoundation.org); Endurance Business (2016); Free Play Magazine)
- The rise was 18% in a year. (Source: IRONMAN Foundation, 'Women For Tri' (ironmanfoundation.org); Endurance Business (2016); Free Play Magazine)
- By 2016 grants had passed $200,000. (Source: IRONMAN Foundation, 'Women For Tri' (ironmanfoundation.org); Endurance Business (2016); Free Play Magazine)
- 2015, the first year, then 2016. (Source: IRONMAN Foundation, 'Women For Tri' (ironmanfoundation.org); Endurance Business (2016); Free Play Magazine)
- 10, 12, 28 and more than 62,000. (Source: IRONMAN Foundation, 'Women For Tri' (ironmanfoundation.org); Endurance Business (2016); Free Play Magazine)
- In 2016 grants were opened to Europe and Asia-Pacific. (Source: IRONMAN Foundation, 'Women For Tri' (ironmanfoundation.org); Endurance Business (2016); Free Play Magazine)

## 10.105 Carfrae's Run

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

### Test 1: Mirinda Carfrae's 2014 run

- Slowtwitch put the gap at 14:33. (Source: Slowtwitch, 'Kienle, Carfrae take Kona' (2014); Swimming World (2014); Triathlon Magazine Canada timeline)
- Only four men ran faster that day. (Source: Slowtwitch, 'Kienle, Carfrae take Kona' (2014); Swimming World (2014); Triathlon Magazine Canada timeline)
- She went on to win comfortably. (Source: Slowtwitch, 'Kienle, Carfrae take Kona' (2014); Swimming World (2014); Triathlon Magazine Canada timeline)
- Ryf finished in 9:02:57. (Source: Slowtwitch, 'Kienle, Carfrae take Kona' (2014); Swimming World (2014); Triathlon Magazine Canada timeline)
- 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)
- She held the women's run record at Kona. (Source: Slowtwitch, 'Kienle, Carfrae take Kona' (2014); Swimming World (2014); Triathlon Magazine Canada timeline)
- Slowtwitch noted it the day after. (Source: Slowtwitch, 'Kienle, Carfrae take Kona' (2014); Swimming World (2014); Triathlon Magazine Canada timeline)
- 1992, 2009, 2013 and 2016. (Source: Slowtwitch, 'Kienle, Carfrae take Kona' (2014); Swimming World (2014); Triathlon Magazine Canada timeline)
- She ran 2:50:26. (Source: Slowtwitch, 'Kienle, Carfrae take Kona' (2014); Swimming World (2014); Triathlon Magazine Canada timeline)
- Ryf would win the next four titles. (Source: Slowtwitch, 'Kienle, Carfrae take Kona' (2014); Swimming World (2014); Triathlon Magazine Canada timeline)

## 10.106 Kendall Gretsch

Paralympic gold in summer and winter.

### Test 1: Kendall Gretsch

- 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')
- 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')
- 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')
- 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')
- 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')
- 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')
- 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')
- 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')
- 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')
- 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')

## 10.107 Kat Matthews

An Army physiotherapist's comeback from a crash.

### Test 1: Kat Matthews

- 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))
- 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))
- 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))
- 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))
- 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))
- 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))
- 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))
- 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))
- 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))
- 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))

## 10.108 Erin Baker

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

### Test 1: Erin Baker

- 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))
- 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))
- 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))
- 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))
- She retired in 1994. (Source: The Spinoff, 'The triathlete who won and won and won' (2022); Professional Triathletes Organisation, 'Erin Baker' (2022))
- 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))
- 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))
- 1981, 1985, 1987 and 1994. (Source: The Spinoff, 'The triathlete who won and won and won' (2022); Professional Triathletes Organisation, 'Erin Baker' (2022))
- 9, 104 and 121. (Source: The Spinoff, 'The triathlete who won and won and won' (2022); Professional Triathletes Organisation, 'Erin Baker' (2022))
- 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))

## 10.109 Duffy Off-Road

Flora Duffy's XTERRA and cross triathlon titles.

### Test 1: Flora Duffy's off-road titles

- 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)
- 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)
- The race became a duathlon. (Source: Slowtwitch, 'Olympic Champion Flora Duffy Wins 6th XTERRA Worlds' (2021); Tri247, 'XTERRA World Champs 2017 report'; Trizone)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2021. (Source: Slowtwitch, 'Olympic Champion Flora Duffy Wins 6th XTERRA Worlds' (2021); Tri247, 'XTERRA World Champs 2017 report'; Trizone)
- 2, 4 and 6. (Source: Slowtwitch, 'Olympic Champion Flora Duffy Wins 6th XTERRA Worlds' (2021); Tri247, 'XTERRA World Champs 2017 report'; Trizone)
- 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)

## 10.110 The Road to Equal Slots

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

### Test 1: Equal Kona slots

- 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))
- 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))
- 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))
- 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))
- 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))
- 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))
- 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))
- 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))
- 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))
- 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))

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.

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