I was born into a very sporting and competitive family. As a child I wanted to become a professional tennis player; Monica Seles was my hero. I ended up playing volleyball rather than tennis and played at a high level until I was 21. I was ambitious but unfortunately I was way too short to make it professionally. I became a sports teacher instead; I just had to do something with sports. Plus, both my parents were sports teachers so I had two very good examples of how to be successful in that line of work.

I started triathlon very late. I was 25. One of my best friends was racing Ironman Frankfurt in 2004 and at that time I wasn’t involved in any sports at all. I was working in pubs and restaurants, enjoying different things in life. But being one of the spectators at the finish line in Frankfurt made me feel the good vibes that triathlon could offer. I was impressed by the emotions of the athletes finishing and the love from their families. I was just overwhelmed by the atmosphere.

I decided to give it a try. I went out and bought a cheap bike, a pair of running shoes and swim equipment. I didn’t know how to swim but I was a decent runner. I think it was a bit of a blessing that I was a bit older when I started as it meant I was more mature and could put a lot of things in perspective.

I have to admit I’m not the best athlete when I’m not feeling well mentally. I keep on thinking about my problems during long trainings; I think about how to handle situations or how to solve certain problems. It takes energy and I’m not able to train properly. Whatever the problem, I’m thinking about it on the road and I’m thinking about it while staring at the black line during the swim. So, I try to make sure I’m without sorrows so that I can be the best athlete I can.

My husband has a disabled sister. She is my biggest fan and follows all of my races. The first thing I have to do when I get home from a race is drive over and hand her my trophy or medal or finisher t-shirt. She collects them from every race, good or bad. When things are getting tough, I think about her. She’s not able to walk, write, or eat by herself, so I know she would give anything to feel her body suffering like mine is. It gives me so much perspective.

One of the unique things about triathlon is that you can not win, but perform well, and it’s still the thrill of a lifetime. But I realize now how rare it is to win a full distance Ironman. I’ve won 3. The next time I win at full distance, I’ll go up and down the red carpet 10 times to enjoy the moment, because I’ve realized it can always be your last time. That’s one of my goals before I retire: winning another one and making sure I cherish that moment!