Nicola spirig
“I am looking forward to this project, even if it will be an unbelievable challenge.”
Birth
07 / 02 / 82
Weight
53 kg/ 117 lbs
Height
166 cm/ 5 ft 4 in
Stats
BIRTHPLACE: Bülach, Switzerland
RESIDENCE: Zurich, Switzerland
EDUCATION: Holds a degree in law
STARTED TRIATHLON: 1992
PROFESSIONAL SINCE: 2001
TRAINS IN: Zurich, Switzerland
COACH: Brett Sutton
ATHLETE CHARITY: Nicola Spirig Foundation
Wins
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Olympic Gold Medallist (2012) |
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Olympic Silver Medallist (2016) |
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Six-time European Champion (2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2018) |
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Seven-time Half Iron distance champion |
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Cozumel Ironman Champion |
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Runner Up at Zurich Marathon, 2014 and 2015 |
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Marathon European Championships in Zurich: 2:37:12 |
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Multiple Swiss Champion in 10,000m, 5,000m and 3,000m |
Bio
Nicola Spirig won gold at the 2012 London Olympic Games in one of the closest sprint finishes in triathlon. In 2016 she claimed silver in Rio and finished sixth in Tokyo, her fifth Olympic Games. In 2022 she will bring a close to her incredible career.
Nicola’s career has largely focussed on the Standard distance (1.5km swim, 40km cycle, 10km run) but has been littered with half distance races and a win on debut over the full distance triathlon in 2014.
Spirig won her first half distance triathlon in 2007, and from 11 races she has never finished off the podium with 11 wins, 3 seconds and a third.
Married to former Swiss triathlete Reto Hug, the couple have three children born in 2013, 2017 and 2019. Unsure whether she would ever return to triathlon, just 12 weeks after her third child was born in April 2019, the 37-year-old was back competing at the Hamburg World Cup and four plus months on at the World Triathlon Series Grand Final held in Lausanne, Switzerland.
The Swiss stars career also includes some world class running achievements, most significantly a 2.37 marathon time.
HIGHLIGHTS
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IRONMAN 70.3 - RAPPERSWIL, SWITZERLAND
JUNE 2007
This was Nicola’s first attempt at the half distance, with an impressive performance delivering a win in front of her home crowd.
Time: 4:15:33
Position: 1 -
IRONMAN 70.3 - RAPPERSWIL, SWITZERLAND
JUNE 2012
As part of her 2012 London Olympic preparation, coach Brett Sutton included two half distance races. She produced her fastest half distance time at this race.
Time: 4:08:52
Position: 1 -
IRONMAN 70.3 - ANTWERP, BELGIUM
JULY 2012
Just 13 days out from the London Games, Nicola put together another strong all-round performance, and another win.
Time: 4:10:47
Position: 1 -
IRONMAN - COZUMEL, MEXICO
DECEMBER 2014
In her first attempt at the full distance, Nicola won Ironman Cozumel, one of hottest and toughest Ironman races in the world.
Time: 9:14:07
Position: 1 -
IRONMAN 70.3 HAUGESUND, NORWAY
JULY 2016
Another Olympic preparation, another half-ironman. In the weeks preceding Rio 2016, Nicola produced a strong swim and bike, but a lightning quick 1:18:32 half marathon run split gave her the win.
On August 20th, she won the Olympic silver medal.
Time: 4:09:37
Position: 1
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