Daniela Ryf declares her retirement: "I know it's the right decision"
Image: Keystone
Daniela Ryf won the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii five times - four times in a row from 2015 to 2018
Image: Keystone
In 2019, she was nominated for the Laureus World Sports Awards
Image: Keystone
In Switzerland, she was voted Sportswoman of the Year in 2015 and 2018
Image: Keystone
Daniela Ryf originally wanted to end her career after the 2012 Olympic Games in London. She then switched to the long distance, became 10x world champion and the greatest triathlete of all time
Image: Keystone
One of the last highlights: In June 2023, Daniela Ryf (center) set a fabulous world record over the Ironman distance of 3.86 km swimming, 180.2 km cycling and 42.2 km running.
Image: Keystone
Daniela Ryf declares her retirement: "I know it's the right decision"
Image: Keystone
Daniela Ryf won the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii five times - four times in a row from 2015 to 2018
Image: Keystone
In 2019, she was nominated for the Laureus World Sports Awards
Image: Keystone
In Switzerland, she was voted Sportswoman of the Year in 2015 and 2018
Image: Keystone
Daniela Ryf originally wanted to end her career after the 2012 Olympic Games in London. She then switched to the long distance, became 10x world champion and the greatest triathlete of all time
Image: Keystone
One of the last highlights: In June 2023, Daniela Ryf (center) set a fabulous world record over the Ironman distance of 3.86 km swimming, 180.2 km cycling and 42.2 km running.
Image: Keystone
On March 1, Daniela Ryf announced her retirement at the end of the year. Six months later, she is calling it a day early: "I know that retiring is the right decision."
Three months ago in Solothurn, the 37-year-old triathlon legend outlined her plans in an interview with Keystone-SDA. At the time, she was already talking about plans B and C, as she had already been set back by injuries. But the athlete from Solothurn was confident that she would "get back on track" and be able to say goodbye to her fans at races.
Daniela Ryf didn't just want to compete in one or two more races: "I wanted to step on the gas again, show another good race." The big goal: the Ironman World Championship in Nice in September. Despite the lack of training, Ryf believed in May that "I would no longer be the main favorite, but on a good day I could be in contention for victory". The intention was there to win another big race.
Now it is clear: Daniela Ryf will not be competing in any more races. First she canceled the start in San Francisco (T100/in spring), then the race in London (T100/in July) and now the Ironman World Championship and all other starts. She made this decision a week ago together with her coach Brett Sutton and her doctor.
Ryf therefore competed in her last triathlon in April at the Ironman South Africa. The day after, she spoke of a "nightmare race". Although she qualified for the World Championships in Nice, she injured her coccyx in this race. Ryf: "Somehow I sensed that it wouldn't be good for me to compete in this race. On the other hand, I've also competed in races when I felt half injured and then I was able to put the problems behind me. I wanted to qualify for Nice."
The coccyx! The pain first appeared during the final marathon in South Africa. The pain got worse after the race. "I couldn't jog any more and didn't dare get back on my bike." Daniela Ryf knew the pain. She had broken her coccyx six years ago. "It felt exactly the same as then - but luckily it wasn't broken this time."
Ultimately, however, the injury prevented her from competing again. An inflammation at the end of the spinal cord was identified as the cause of the coccyx complaints. This was followed by more treatment, further setbacks and now retirement.
Future plans not yet ready
What remains is to look back. "Even if the end is not what I dreamed it would be: I am enormously grateful for everything that happened and how it happened. And even if everyone always said: 'With Daniela Ryf, everything always goes perfectly and like clockwork...' Those around me knew very well that there were always setbacks and mental doubts. The fact that I have always managed to overcome everything and go beyond my limits fills me with pride."
And what does the future hold for the ten-time world champion, who triumphed four times in a row in Hawaii, two-time Sportswoman of the Year (2015 and 2018) and arguably the greatest triathlete of all time? Daniela Ryf: "I will stay connected to triathlon. I'll be there at the World Championships in Nice, even if I can't compete. There are plans for the future, even if they are not yet ready to be decided. I'm also planning to take some time out next year, or rather a "sabbatical". I'm very lucky that I don't have to take on a 100% job in January to make ends meet. I consider that an enormous luxury."
