MENNO KOOLHAAS

The Ironman World Championship in Hawaii – often called the holy grail of triathlon – is an iconic race held on the island where the sport of triathlon was born. Each year, the world’s best professional and amateur triathletes compete here over the classic Ironman distance:

3.8 km swim, 180 km bike, and 42.2 km run.

As a young triathlete, I always dreamed of one day racing in Hawaii – and ultimately, of winning it. Every year, I would watch the Ironman World Championship on TV with the local triathlon club, completely captivated. Those moments inspired me to pursue this sport seriously.

In 2024, that dream partially came true: I had the opportunity to compete as a professional in the Ironman World Championship for the very first time. It turned into an incredible race, and I finished 5th in the world – the best performance ever by a Dutch triathlete at this legendary event.

That experience made me realize one thing: I want more. My ambition to one day win the Ironman World Championship has only grown stronger!

In 2025, I’m proud to be part of the prestigious T100 World Tour – an international series of nine races held across the globe. In this innovative triathlon format, the world’s top 20 triathletes compete over a 100 km distance: 

2 km swim, 80 km bike, and 18 km run.

Each athlete receives a contract and is required to compete in at least four races plus the Grand Final. This final event, known as the “Road to Qatar”, marks the thrilling conclusion of the season.

The T100 World Tour represents a major step forward for the sport of triathlon. With live broadcasts worldwide – including in the Netherlands on Eurosport – and increased financial rewards, it brings greater visibility and professionalism to our sport.

My goal this year is to race in as many T100 events as possible and aim for the highest possible ranking by the end of the season. I’m excited to compete against the very best and push my limits throughout this journey!

T100triathlon.com

Since partnering with DeBoer Wetsuits, my swim performances have reached a new level. DeBoer represents innovation, quality, and high-performance technology – exactly what I need to compete at the top of the sport. Their wetsuits give me a clear edge in the water, both in training and on race day.

A true highlight was the 2024 Ironman World Championship in Hawaii, where I exited the water in first place, wearing a custom-designed DeBoer wetsuit. It was a moment that perfectly illustrates the strength of our partnership and the impact of world-class gear.

As a proud DeBoer ambassador, I’m excited for what’s ahead – together, we continue to push the limits of performance.

DeBoerSWIM.com

In 2023, I became the European Long Distance Champion during an unforgettable race in Almere. Competing in front of a home crowd, everything came together almost perfectly, and I crossed the finish line in 7:36:36. With that time, I not only broke the Dutch long distance record, but also set a new course record at Challenge Almere. This performance ranked among the top 6 fastest long distance times in the world at that moment.

In 2024, I managed to improve my own national record once again during the Ironman Frankfurt, finishing in 7:35:51. This result reaffirmed that I’m still progressing and continuing to push my limits in the sport.
Website NTB

Triathlon Inside is a Dutch triathlon community with a clear mission: to grow the sport of triathlon in the Netherlands and bring it into the spotlight. They do this through a broad platform that includes a podcast, a magazine, and their own triathlon event, which will take place this year on August 27th in Epe.

Triathlon Inside also works with several top athletes as ambassadors – and I’m proud to be one of them. Together, we share a passion and a common goal: to grow the sport in the Netherlands and inspire more people to discover and take part in triathlon.

Triathloninside.com