Els Visser (33) from Glimmen has become European triathlon champion. During the Challenge Almere-Amsterdam she crossed the finish line in 8 hours, 36 minutes and 24 seconds.
The long-distance triathlon, also called the classic triathlon, is an enormous war of attrition. Just imagine: first swim 3.8 kilometers, then cycle 180 kilometers and finally run a full marathon. For Els Visser it is a piece of cake. The Groningen native, who was shipwrecked in Indonesia in 2014 and survived by swimming to an uninhabited island, has been a professional athlete for six years. She put a career as a surgeon on hold.
Emotional scenes
Visser, who won the New Zealand Iron Man in March, was the favorite among women at the European Championships. Last year she became ill the day before, and a year earlier Visser finished second. This time she defeated her biggest competitors Renee Kiley and Marlene de Boer along the way. Once we crossed the finish line, emotional scenes followed. Visser felt supported by family and friends.
“This means so much to me,” she said afterwards. “I felt a lot of energy and support. All I could do was give the best of myself. I did that and I can only be proud of that.”