Triathlon star from Teisendorf: Johannes Strohmaier qualified for World Cup!

Triathlon star from Teisendorf: Johannes Strohmaier qualified for World Cup!

Klagenfurt am Wörthersee, Österreich - in Klagenfurt, the starting signal for one of the most challenging Ironman competitions of the year was given last weekend. Johannes Strohmaier, a 30-year-old triathlete from Teisendorf, caused a sensation. After more than 15 years in triathlon sport, he was able to qualify with an impressive total time of 9:47 hours for the Ironman World Championship in Nice on September 14th. "That was my big goal," said Strohmaier, who had to cancel last year due to pneumonia for the competition. This time, however, nothing seemed to be able to stop him.

The competition started at 6:40 a.m. with a 3.8 km long swimming round in Lake Wörthersee, whose water temperature was just 22.3 degrees. The Teisendorfer delivered a solid swim and came out of the water after 62 minutes. But the challenge was far from over. The subsequent bike route of 180 kilometers in two rounds of 90 kilometers, with 1680 meters of altitude, demanded everything from the athletes. Strohmaier covered this route in 5:06 hours and fought with oppressive 32 degrees.

The final marathon

The last 42.195 kilometers ran in 3:31 hours and thus secured an overall rank of 123 among almost 3000 participants and a considerable 32nd place in his age group. His success is no coincidence - triathlon sport has experienced a real boom in recent years. According to the current figures in the Ironman management, the number of participants under the age of 30 has increased significantly, which should boost the future of sport. After all, numerous initiatives have been launched in the past five years to inspire young people in particular for the sport. This also shows that triathlon becomes an increasingly accessible sport-last year over 200,000 athletes registered for Ironman events worldwide.

Strohmaier is not the only one who caused a sensation. The 24-year-old German professional Finn Große-Freese won the victory in Klagenfurt with a time of 7:52 hours and called the race the hardest, but also the most beautiful that he had ever experienced. He made it clear how important it is for him not only to see sport as a competition, but also as a way of life that shapes and brings it on.

The importance of triathlon in growth

With the positive trends that can be observed in triathlon worldwide, the signs for the future are good. It is particularly exciting that with 39 percent more first participants under the age of 30 since 2019, the younger generation has formed an increasingly important part of the triathlon community. Especially now that Ironman is implementing new programs to promote women in sports, there is a great hope that these number of participants will also increase. It is also expected that these initiatives will further increase the health and fitness levels among the athletes.

Johannes Strohmaier has taken a clear step forward and will intensively prepare his participation in the World Cup in Nice. "I am really looking forward to the challenge and hope that I can cut off even better," he said optimistically. The triathlon sport remains a synomyn for border experience and personal best - and in Klagenfurt this was once again impressively demonstrated.

For more information about this exciting competition, interested parties can be found on pnp and [ Zeitung] (https://www.kleinezeitung.at/sport/sommersport/triathlon/ironman/19796378/226-kilometer- against-enen-schwein-und-und--und Ironman follow.