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Capt Matthews wins Ironman 70.3 Tallinn

Capt Kat Matthews (nee Rye) raced in the first Ironman event since the pandemic struck at Ironman 70.3 Tallinn. There was also a small team of Army triathletes competing in the age group event alongside the Estonian Defence Force.

The Army Physiotherapist, Matthews, was up against some top Elite international competition with a 2016 Olympian and athletes who have consistently come top 20 in the World at the Professional Ironman Champs, Kona Hawaii. Capt Matthews took the lead out of the swim, posting the quickest time in transition too. She led the race throughout the 90km bike with other athletes pushing hard to keep sight of her. Entering the bike-run transition she was 90s in the lead. From here she started to pull away, posting a 1hr20 half marathon she finished the 70.3 mile triathlon in 4:08:14, winning by over 5minutes.

This professional win qualifies her to race again at the World Championships for Ironman 70.3, this time in Sept 2021 in the USA.

Capt Matthews continues to build her training towards the Ironman distance and hopes to race again in the coming months whilst being supported by the Army Sports Control Board, Elite Athlete Programme and TASS.

Photographs by Maido Parv – Ironman Estonia