It’s hard to believe that just over a year ago, Kat Matthews was recovering from being hit by a car while training in Texas. A brilliant year has come to an end for the British star who finished runner-up at the Ironman World Championships in St George’s and won the Sub-8 Project in a time of 7 hours 31 minutes 54 seconds with assistance. . Despite her dramatic ending, it wasn’t long before she was back on the podium.
Ironman favorite Kat Matthews hit by car while training in Texas
She started 2023 with a third-place finish at Ironman 70.3 Oceanside, then won Ironman Texas and finished second to Taylor Knibb at the Ironman 70.3 World Championship, but had a disappointing day in Kona. He spent a lot of time and ultimately withdrew from the race.
“I’m disgusted and embarrassed by my race performance/DNF, but so sad,” she wrote on Instagram after a tough day in Kona. “There’s no definitive explanation. I know it’s not heart, brain or mental. There’s something physically wrong with me. I was in a great position and an hour into the bike ride.” I remember thinking, “OK, totally within myself” (AV power and HR, no signs of overdoing it), very prepared for the 1 hour 30 to 2 hour 30 minute section until the turnaround. (I’ve already ridden it 10 times!). Then it was literally like a switch was flipped and I struggled to make a decision. In fact, I was begging at the aid station for water. I couldn’t control the bike inside the bars and the power was halved for the same HR. I thought I would be able to overcome it and turn things around, but the situation remained the same. ”
However, Matthews bounced back in style with a big win at Ironman 70.3 Bahrain earlier today. After finishing the swim about three minutes behind 2012 Olympian Lucy Buckingham, Matthews continued to lose time, with pre-race favorite Ellie Salthouse of Australia 28 seconds ahead of Kiwi. – Together with Amelia, she finished the bike in 5th place, 5 minutes and 32 seconds behind her compatriot. Watkinson was at the back of the bike, four seconds behind.
Matthews charged to the end and by the halfway point of the half-marathon, the gap had been reduced to 1 minute 34 seconds, while Watkinson was 2 minutes 22 seconds behind Buckingham. In second place, Germany’s Caroline Paule followed Buckingham by 23 seconds at the end of the swim and was able to stay within two minutes of the British swimmer at the end of the bike.
According to Buckingham’s BMC Pro Tri Team, she was hit by a motorcyclist, which slowed her down and ultimately dropped her place to seventh. (More details will be provided as soon as we know more.)
After a great swim bike/swim bike combo, @Lucy_Tri I was looking for the best result for the race. Unfortunately for her, a collision with her car caused her to hurt her lower back.But she kept fighting and she came home in 7th place. #IM703 Bahrain
— BMC Pro Triathlon Team p/b 2XU (@BMCProTri) December 8, 2023
Matthews continued his charge and took the lead with 5km to go. Paule was still in second place, but Watkinson was able to overtake him with 4km to go and was able to open up a few seconds over Matthews with a few kilometers to go. But in the end, it was Matthews’ day, running the half marathon in 1:19:08 and winning in 3:59:07. Fellow Bahrain Victorious 13 team member Watkinson (3:59:43) finished 36 seconds behind, with Paul rounding out the podium in 4:00:17. Salthouse finished fourth in 4:00:50, and Sweden’s Anna Bergsten finished fourth in 4:01:03.