Natascha Badmann facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Natascha Badmann

Natascha Badmann competing in 2012 at Ironman 70.3 Austria
Personal information
Nickname(s)	Swiss Miss Natasches ("Too fast") "The Smile"
Born	(1966-12-06) 6 December 1966 (age 58) Basel, Switzerland
Residence	Switzerland
Height	1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
Weight	52 kilograms (115 lb)
Sport
Country	Switzerland
Turned pro	1995
Coached by	Toni Hasler
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	9:07:54 (2002)
Medal record Representing  Switzerland Women's triathlon Ironman World Championship Gold 1998 Kailua-Kona Elite Gold 2000 Kailua-Kona Elite Gold 2001 Kailua-Kona Elite Gold 2002 Kailua-Kona Elite Gold 2004 Kailua-Kona Elite Gold 2005 Kailua-Kona Elite Silver 1996 Kailua-Kona Elite Silver 2003 Kailua-Kona Elite

Natascha Badmann (born December 6, 1966) is a famous professional triathlete from Switzerland. She is known for winning the Ironman World Championships six times. These big wins happened in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii in 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, and 2005. In 1998, she made history as the first European woman to win this tough competition.

Natascha works as a social worker in Switzerland. She can speak German, English, French, and Italian. She lives in Winznau, Switzerland, with her husband Toni and their daughter Anastasia.

About Natascha

Natascha's daughter, Anastasia, was born just before Natascha turned 18. Natascha is often called the "Swiss Miss" because she is from Switzerland. She won her first Ironman World Championship when she was 29 years old. At that time, her daughter was already 13. Her husband, Toni Hasler, is also her coach and helps her with her nutrition.

What is an Ironman Triathlon?

An Ironman Triathlon is a very long and challenging race. It combines three sports:

• A 2.4-mile (3.86 km) swim
• A 112-mile (180.25 km) bicycle ride
• A 26.22-mile (42.20 km) marathon run

Athletes do all three parts in one continuous race. It is one of the toughest one-day sports events in the world.

Natascha's Amazing Wins

Natascha Badmann is a true legend in the world of triathlon. She won the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii six times. This is a huge achievement! Her wins show how strong, determined, and skilled she is.

In 2004, Natascha finished second in the Ironman World Championship. However, the person who finished first was later disqualified. This meant Natascha was then named the official winner of the race.

Facing Challenges

Natascha has also faced tough moments in her career. In the 2007 Hawaii Ironman race, she had an accident on the bike part. She injured her shoulder and collarbone. Even though she wanted to keep going, her husband and coach, Toni, convinced her to stop. This was to prevent more serious injuries.

In the 2006 race, she had health problems early in the running part. She had to stop and was struggling to continue. She even started to walk. But with amazing support from the cheering fans, Natascha found the strength to start jogging again. She finished the race, showing incredible courage and spirit.

Major Achievements

Natascha Badmann has won many important races throughout her career. Here are some of her top achievements:

• Ironman World Championship (Kailua-Kona, USA):

* Gold: 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005 * Silver: 1996, 2003

• South Africa Ironman:

* Gold: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2012

• Ironman California (USA):

* Gold: 2001

• European Triathlon Championships:

* Gold: 1997 (Finland) * Silver: 1995 (Sweden)

• Long Distance Duathlon World Championships:

* Gold: 1997 (Switzerland)

• Duathlon Worldwide Championships:

* Gold: 1995 (Mexico) * Silver: 1994 (Australia)

Natascha's career shows that with hard work and determination, you can achieve amazing things!

See also

In Spanish: Natascha Badmann para niños