Yvonne van Vlerken
 Yvonne van Vlerken winning silver at the 2008 Ironman world championship | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Nickname | The flying Dutchwoman | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 5 November 1978 Krimpen aan de Lek, Netherlands | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.64 m (5 ft 5 in)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 57 kg (126 lb)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country | Netherlands | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Tri Team Lustenau | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team | Endurance Team Austria[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Turned pro | 2007 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coached by | Frank Senders Stapsport [2] Mark Allen[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Yvonne van Vlerken (born 5 November 1978) is a Dutch triathlete and duathlete, twice winner of Quelle Challenge Roth, who in 2008 set a world record for Ironman-distance triathlon races.[3] She is one of a small group of female triathletes to have recorded three or more sub-9 hour times over the Ironman distance.[4]
Early life
Yvonne van Vlerken was born in the small town of Krimpen aan de Lek near Gouda on 5 November 1978. Her father was an "excellent" football player, and she also became a footballer, playing for the South Holland team. After attending high school she graduated from a fitness-specific school with a degree in fitness coaching, professional aerobic instruction and sports massage therapy.[citation needed] Van Vlerken worked in her home town for over 13 years. Her clients included school children for dance education and older people for fitness coaching.[5]
Athletic career
On 13 July 2008, van Vlerken set a then new world record of 8:45:48 for Ironman-distance races at the Quelle Challenge Roth, more than five minutes faster than Paula Newby-Fraser's world record time of 8:50:53, which had stood for 14 years. The race took place in wet and cold conditions with non-stop rain and wind.[citation needed] Yvonne van Vlerken broke the old record with the then second-fastest female Ironman-distance marathon time of 2:54:22. Her record stood for a year, until it was again broken in Roth by Chrissie Wellington, who lowered it by 13 minutes and 49 seconds, in dry and perfect conditions.[6][7]
Yvonne van Vlerken's other accomplishments include:
- Recorded a sub-9 hour finish (8:51:55) at her Ironman-distance debut in Roth 2007.[4]
- The only female athlete in history[citation needed] who has held the world record for both the half-Ironman distance (4:07:29 at 2006 Ironman 70.3 Antwerp) and the full Ironman distance (8:45:48 at 2008 Challenge Roth)[8]
Notes
- ^ a b c d e "Yvonne van Vlerken – profile". n.d. Archived from the original on 2008-10-16. Retrieved 2008-09-21.
- ^ "Frank Senders Trainer / Coach". n.d. Archived from the original on 2010-09-26. Retrieved 2011-04-19.
- ^ "Niederländerin wiederholt Vorjahressieg". BR Online. 2008-07-13. Retrieved 2010-01-03. [dead link]
- ^ a b Levison, John (2009-10-13). "Sub 9-iron ladies – a history". Tri247.com. Archived from the original on 2010-07-29. Retrieved 2010-09-12.
- ^ Krabel, Herbert (2008-08-03). "Yvonne van Vlerken checks in". slowtwitch.com. Retrieved 2010-01-06.
- ^ "New world record in Roth". Challenge Wanaka. 2008-07-14. Archived from the original on 2008-08-28. Retrieved 2010-01-03.
- ^ Carlson, Timothy (12 July 2009). "Wellington smashes WR at Roth". slowtwitch.com. Retrieved 12 September 2010.
- ^ "Fast Racing In Antwerp". Ironman.com. 2006-07-04. Archived from the original on 2008-08-07. Retrieved 2010-01-03.