Mirinda Carfrae - Ironman Triathlon World Champion

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"The Greg Bennett Show"

In this episode of One Moment Longer with Greg Bennett, I am welcoming back a legend of the triathlon world, Mirinda Carfrae.

Mirinda (or 'Rinny') is a three-time Ironman World Champion, an Ironman 70.3 World Champion, and one of the most formidable athletes ever to compete. She's a professional triathlete who illustrates the mantra,

"Success comes to those who endure just one moment longer."

Rinny was one of the first interviews I did for this podcast three and a half years ago, in episode 6, February 2020.

Mirinda has recently made the tough decision to retire, and we'll be discussing this significant shift in her life, how she came to that decision, and what the process was like. We will explore her most memorable moments, discuss the highs and lows, and get a glimpse into some of her most epic workouts.

We’ll discuss the evolution of the sport, how technology has changed the game, and her thoughts on the future of triathlon. And, of course, what life looks like for her after professional racing.

She’s a great friend, and I’m excited to get this chance to catch up.

Originally from Australia, and now residing in Boulder, CO Mirinda is a one of the world’s most successful triathletes. Her 2007 70.3 World Championships win secured her ticket to the Ironman World Championships in Kona. In 2009 she set a course run record and finished 2nd in her first Kona appearance. She continued her dominance and went on to win three Ironman World Championships in 2010, 2013, and 2014.

Her 2013 win included the third fastest marathon of the day including the men’s field. Her blistering run course record from 2014 still stands today (2:50:26).

Mirinda is a threat at every race she enters with over 50 wins at major events throughout the world. Her Ironman 70.3 World Championship title and three Ironman World Titles and seven podium finishes in Kona in the span of a decade marks her as one the of the greatest triathletes of all time.

Growing up in Queensland, Australia, Mirinda Carfrae, widely known as “Rinny”, was a sporty child, with basketball her primary focus. At 5’ 3”, however, her true athletic potential remained untapped until a high school triathlon coach noticed her speed on the court and suggested she give multisport a go. At the age of 19 she competed in her first triathlon and shortly thereafter–with no prior background in swimming, cycling or running–made the 2001 Australian Junior Elite Team.

Rinny represented Australia at the ITU Triathlon World Championships from 2001-2005, twice earning silver medals (2002 & 2003) before turning her attention to long distance racing. A victory at the Nice Long Course Triathlon (2004) and a silver medal at the ITU Long Course World Championship (2005) were early indicators that endurance was her forte; a third-place podium finish (2006) and ultimately a world title at the Ironman 70.3 World Championship (2007) confirmed Rinny as one of the top talents on the non-draft racing circuit.

That victory was pivotal, not only as a precursor to Rinny’s numerous half iron-distance wins to that date, but also to punch her first ever entry ticket to the Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, an honor she postponed until 2009. That October, as a wide-eyed Ironman rookie, Rinny stepped off the plane onto the Big Island and was quickly swept up in the race week frenzy, heralded as the next great hope for the title at triathlon’s “holy grail” despite having yet to prove her prowess at the distance.

But prove it she did, using her finely-honed foot speed to post a course run record and secure second place. The following year, Rinny’s constant drive to improve resulted in her first title as Ironman World Champion. In the years that followed, despite race day struggles