Natascha Badmann

Natascha (December 6, 1966 in Basel) is a Swiss duathlete and triathlete. Six times won the Ironman Hawaii, the official Triathlon World Championships. 1998 and 2002, she was Swiss Sportswoman of the Year. 1997 and again in 2000, she was at Powerman Zofingen World Champion Long Distance Duathlon.

Career

The course of their sporting career is rather unusual. Badmann had become 17 years old mother ( daughter Anastasia ), worked as a secretary and was overweight. The turning point in her life came in 1989 when she met the former triathlon coach Toni Hasler, of her partner and coach was in the episode. Hasler soon discovered Badmanns talent for endurance sports and consistently promoted their development into a top athlete.

In the early 1990s, Badmann could claim duathlon world leaders. At the World Championships in 1992, she finished fourth, one year later Vice - European Champion. In 1995 and 1997 she won the Duathlon World Champion title, 1997, she was also Duathlon European Champion. In 1996, she took first at Ironman Hawaii in Kailua -Kona and arrived equal second place, beaten only by the record champion Paula Newby - Fraser.

Until 1997 Badmann was semi-professional and worked part-time as a social worker at the town hall in Trimbach. She then decided to become a professional career and focused then on to the triathlon. This year Badmann already counted towards the narrow circle of favorites at Ironman Hawaii, but had to abandon the race with stomach cramps. In 1998, she was finally the first European ever win the most prestigious of all triathlon races. Due to this success, she was elected to the Swiss Sportswoman of the Year.

The year 1999 was all the preparation for the Olympic Games 2000 dedicated. But the Olympic distance of 1.5 km swim, 40 km bike ride and 10 km run proved to be too short for their skills; Badmann could not play to their strength in cycling and was not fast enough when swimming. For this reason, they decided not to participate and focused on the long distance (3,8 km swim, 180 km bike, 42 km run ).

In the following years Badmann proved Dominatorin at the Ironman race. She won between 2000 and 2002 three consecutive Ironman Hawaii and was elected for the second time Swiss Sportswoman of the Year 2002.

In April 2012, they won their fourth win at Ironman South Africa.

Natascha lives in Oftringen with Toni Hasler, who performs alongside his work as a personal trainer and sports training camps and management courses. Badmann is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.

Sporting successes

( DNF - Did Not Finish )

• International duathlete of the decade
• Swiss Sportswoman of the Year (1998, 2002)
• International Triathlete of the Year ( 2001, 2002 )